Feature - Leading from the front

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Airman dropped his gear and knelt down to examine his injured comrade and without hesitation, treated the injury. 

Carrying his injured friend along with the rest of his gear, the Airman pressed on, knowing lives were at stake if he didn't complete his mission. 

Although this was a training scenario during a physical training session Nov. 9, Airmen of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle operations flight understood that hesitation in a real situation may result in lost lives. 

"We've stepped up our PT program because there may come a time when you're in a kill zone and you may need to drag someone out of a truck," said Staff Sgt. Adam Varga, 18th LRS NCO-in-charge of readiness and strategic planning. 

The vehicle ops flight held an early morning ruck march on this day to vary their usual four-times weekly 2.3 mile flight runs. 

The march served as an example of the flight's commitment to high fitness standards and mission readiness. 

"During our ruck march, we had what we call 'sergeant's training time' where we went through some Airman's Manual checklists at certain rally points," said Capt. Alfredo Laboy, 18th LRS vehicle ops flight commander. "We try to set an example for the rest of Team Kadena. We can't afford to have the mentality of just training for the next operational readiness inspection, because our vehicle operators go on convoys all the time and anyone can be called to augment an Army unit at any time." 

The flight is committed to producing leaders at all levels ready to meet any mission challenge. 

"This all started with our combat mission that we perform in places like Afghanistan and Iraq as combat convoy operators," said Sergeant Varga. "Our vehicle operators are doing escort detail for convoys and have to be heavy weapons experts." 

Sergeant Varga said it is the responsibility of his flight to continue this type of training to prepare for missions "outside the wire." 

"We want our Airmen to have the confidence to carry out the mission and bring cargo and people to where they need to go," said Chief Master Sgt. Reggie Caldwell, 18th LRS vehicle ops flight chief. "We're putting our folks in the most dangerous and difficult mission around and that's running convoys." 

In the past, the vehicle ops flight supported 11 air expeditionary force and 52 Army "in-lieu-of" taskings in Iraq and Afghanistan. The flight also escorted and protected more than 1,200 convoys in the theater of operations with several flight members earning the Army Combat Action Badge. 

The vehicle ops flight is also responsible for the daily delivery of all U.S. and Department of Defense mail island-wide and providing bus service to 13 schools for Department of Defense Dependent Schools special needs students. The flight also services 1,700 wing vehicles and supports 60,000 transportation requests monthly. 

Vehicle ops Airmen know they have a heavy responsibility placed on their collective shoulders. But they also know that other Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are depending on them to do their job well, whether in a convoy far away from here or at home.