KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Airmen assigned to the 403rd Wing completed a series of Ready Airmen Training courses designed to strengthen mission readiness and reinforce core warfighting skills during the four-day unit training assembly, May 2-5.
“The intent of this training rodeo is to maximize the UTA by bringing our Airmen together to complete the Ready Airman Training,” said Elysia Rodriguez, 403rd Mission Support Group unit deployment manager. “It is important to make sure our members in a deployment position are qualified and ready to deploy.”
Ready Airmen Training is a program designed to prepare Airmen for military operations, developing their knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in various environments in support of the Air Force Force Generation, or AFFORGEN, deployment model, which organizes training and deployment in a structured cycle.
The wing’s multi-day training covered key areas such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense, patient movement while wearing the Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear, communication procedures on land mobile radios, and a small arms refresher course, which goes over proper weapons clearing, hand-in procedures, and breakdown of the M4 carbine rifle and 9mm handgun for cleaning. These competencies prepare Airmen to operate effectively in austere and contested environments.
Col. Jaret Fish, 403rd Wing deputy commander, highlighted the significance of continuous training in maintaining a combat-credible force.
“The importance of this training can’t be overstated; it ensures our Airmen are confident, capable and ready to respond when called upon, whether in combat zones or during humanitarian missions,” said Fish.
The training supports the Air Force’s initiative to build multi-capable Airmen and aligns with agile combat employment principles, enhancing the wing’s ability to rapidly deploy and operate under a wide range of conditions.
Rodriguez emphasized how the training supports real-world mission requirements.
“Ready Airmen Training provides the hands-on experience our members need to succeed in deployed environments. They're here to learn, they're here to train, and they're here to apply the skills that they've been taught,” she said. “This rodeo will also help identify and address gaps before they become issues downrange.”
As an Air Force Reserve unit, the 403rd Wing, plays a vital role in national defense by preparing its Airmen to respond with skill and resilience in any mission environment.
“Our Airmen are the foundation of everything we do,” Fish said. “By investing in their readiness today, we’re ensuring the 403rd Wing remains ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”