Patriot Wing CES Airmen lead the way at Silver Flag exercise

  • Published
  • By SrA. Charles Hutchinson IV
  • 439th AW/PA
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- --  Reservists with the 439th Civil Engineering Squadron successfully completed a major Air Force exercise in record time at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

"CE is required to go every 40 months to Silver Flag, or before any deployment," said Maj. Robert Russo, CES commander. "It is critical reportable readiness training."

The unit departed Westover Jan. 7, joining more than 100 other Airmen from bases throughout the Air Force, including Texas, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Virginia. At 53 members, the Patriot Wing CE team was the largest.

"With all those various installations sending Airmen, all my people were the shop leads," Maj. Russo said.

The Silver Flag Exercise has a 74-person cadre, providing contingency combat support training to active-duty, Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard, Army, Marine Corps and allied nations mission support group personnel.

More than 4,500 people are trained each year at the Tyndall site.

During the week long training, various units practice building and maintain bare-base operations at a forward-deployed location. Airmen sharpen their skills of repairing bomb-damaged runways and setting up base facilities; firefighters receive specific expeditionary training that supply the combatant commander with a highly trained and skilled emergency response force.

"The entire airfield-- including two approximate 40-foot craters were repaired by our Airmen, as well as the aircraft arresting barrier, and the emergency airfield lighting," said Maj Russo. "All set up in record time to open the airfield an hour and a half earlier than the anticipated time!"

Senior Master Sergeant Stacy Gilman, CES first sergeant, said, "It was an outstanding trip!"
"We set a new land speed record for the exercise. The Silver Flag staff was astounded to see that."

Although typically two Air Force specialty codes are recognized for outstanding performances, there were for this exercise -- and the 439th CES Airmen led all three.

Section leaders were SMSgt. Anthony Delduco, utilities; structures, MSgt. Eric Tift, and heating ventilation and cooling, TSgt. David Hallfelder.

"The 439th CES Silver Flag Team successfully mobilized, deployed, and accomplished the Silver Flag training and certification as expected, without flaw. The cadre praised the teamwork and positive attitudes of the entire class. Everybody leaves the training with confidence."

The CE members returned home Jan. 14.

"It was a grand slam for CE," said SMSgt. Gilman. "And it was a lot of fun!"