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Andersen AFB hosts Exercise Dragon Forge 2021

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs

Airmen from the 644th Combat Communications Squadron, 36th Contingency Response Squadron and 36th Contingency Response Support Squadron are showing what it means to be multi-capable.

Over the course of three weeks, 44 students took part in exercise Dragon Forge at North West Field on Andersen AFB, Guam. The exercise is a combat skills training course designed to teach, train and build Airmen deploying to austere locations.

“Students spent two weeks in the classroom and one week in the field,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Zertuche, combat readiness school instructor assigned to the 644th CBCS. “For the classroom portion, we taught them everything from combatives to navigation skills, rules of engagement and convoy training.”

The training was designed to prepare them for any situation they might find themselves in whether it is navigating the jungles in Guam or downrange in a firefight.

“Every Airmen that deploys needs to be prepared for whatever comes at them and this course is designed to set them up for success,” said Zertuche.

This training ensures every Airmen that participated is prepared to prevail at all times rather than waiting to receive the training prior to a deployment.

“War could pop off tomorrow or we could get deployed and we needed this kind of training to be prepared for that type of contingency,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Blake Hawley, air transportation journeyman assigned to the 36th CRS. “I feel that I am well prepared to face any obstacle that stands in my way.”

The exercise wrapped up with a two-day field training exercise that put their new multi-capable skills on full display.