Members of the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, fill out travel claims Thursday after returning from the Silver Flag training exercise on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. (T.D. Flack/Stars and Stripes)
U.S. airmen from across the Pacific gathered on Okinawa recently for a training exercise designed to prepare them for upcoming deployments.
Airmen from Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa and mainland Japan joined forces for the latest Silver Flag exercise, which ended in early April.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Rosburg, a heavy equipment operator and instructor with Detachment 1, 554th Red Horse Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, helped train the troops.
He said participants worked in concert, staying focused on safety, urgency and attitude.
"If one thing fails, it just tumbles down to everyone else," Rosburg said. "We work together as a team."
His instruction focused on keeping an airfield operational in combat zones, including patching holes in a runway damaged by simulated bombs, repairing lights and clearing debris.
Misawa Air Base, in northern Japan, sent 34 airmen to the exercise, said 1st Lt. Peeter Pleake-Tamm, the officer in charge of the detachment. Most came from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron.
Airman 1st Class Paris Laba, a structure journeyman, said they started with classroom training and moved to hands-on work prior to the live exercise.
He said the most difficult part was working in his chemical protective gear.
"We did a lot of things I hadn’t got to do yet," he said, such as repairing a "damaged" runway, putting up shelters and eating a lot of Meals, Ready-to-Eat.
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Young, an electrician, called it "good refresher" training with a lot of pressure.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Messner, who works with heating and air conditioning systems, saw a huge benefit in the exercise, especially for airmen who haven’t deployed. It was his third Silver Flag exercise. And with previous deployments to Saudi Arabia and Qatar under his belt, Messner was able to help mentor the newer troops.
"Younger guys might feel pressure," he said, but he assures them there’s "no need to panic."
Added Messner: "Just take your time and teach them."
Team leader Pleake-Tamm said he was happy with the overall performance.
"For a mishmashed team from four bases, [the troops] got it done, did a real great job," he said.
