RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 435th Construction and Training Squadron concluded its first of six Silver Flag trainings of the year, and with some participants tasked to deploy in support of Operation Epic Fury, the was just-in-time.
This iteration was also the first time the force support career field rejoined their civil engineer and logistics readiness counterparts in three years.
“I’m excited for this reintegration, because CE is our best friend in a deployed environment,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Naomi Holley, 435 CTS Force Support Contingency instructor. “It forces them to learn who exactly they need to contact for support, and in return, our services students support the CE specialties, especially when it comes to morale.”
Ramstein is one of three Silver Flag locations that prepares Airmen from 16 career fields in more than 350 wartime tasks. The training began with classroom instruction and hands-on applications before moving to a forward-deployed bare base.
“The students set everything up from their tents to showers,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Tyler Stout, 435 CTS Contingency Training flight commander. “We then culminated with our exercise that tested core competencies.”
To ensure the training reflected current global events, this Silver Flag iteration was the first to incorporate a simulated drone attack, a change based on direct feedback from deployed warfighters. The training covered a wide range of critical skills, including airfield damage repair, response to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, lodging operations, and mortuary affairs.
"My hope is that my students retain the information and not only apply it on a real-world deployment but also bring back the knowledge to their respective units," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Reena Neumeister, 435CTS Personnel Support for Contingency Operations Contingency Training NCOIC.
The 435 CTS cadre are also subject-matter experts in their career field and provide help to their peers Air Force-wide. Just prior to this Silver Flag, the 435 CTS cadre provided just-in-time training for Spangdahlem Air Base Airmen before they deployed in support of Operation Epic Fury.