HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — During training exercises here Dec. 5 and 7, Airmen were evaluated on weapons procedures, self-aid and buddy care, military operations in contaminated environments, and explosives containment.

The ability of Airmen to survive and operate in a combat environment and effectively perform wartime missions is getting renewed attention in response to Defense Department and Department of the Air Force priorities calling for more focus on readiness.

Hill AFB, along with other Air Force Materiel Command bases, used the exercises to evaluate its Expeditionary Readiness Training program and its Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Awareness & Survival Skills program.

“As part of the additional emphasis on readiness, [Air Force Materiel Command] is taking a crawl, walk, run approach to evaluate the training personnel are receiving prior to deployment,” said Installation

Exercise Manager Rick Dooley. “The personnel selected for the evaluation had to complete or be current on the three main training items required for deployment: weapons qualification, SABC (self-aid and buddy care) and CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives).”

Those being evaluated included Airmen from the 75th ABW and tenant units. The evaluators were members of the Wing Inspection Team along with subject matter experts from several mission partners.

The AFMC mission is to deliver and support agile war-winning capabilities for America’s Air Force. These exercises ensure the command is ready to provide installation and mission support across the Air Force enterprise.