24 April, 2008

Members of squadron 21 recently had the opportunity to attend a two-day training event held at Brackett Field in La Verne, CA. Instructors taught classes for Ground Team, Urban Direction Finding (UDF), and Mission Radio Operator (MRO) mission specialties.

Attendees arrived at 8 a.m. for sign-in, and after the initial briefing everyone had a lesson in map and compass usage. Later on everyone split up to attend classes in each mission specialty. Ground team trainees studied a variety of tasks, from treating and preventing injuries to moving as part of a search line. UDF classes consisted of utilizing triangulation techniques to home in on a beacon, as well as performing an airfield search. MRO students learned proper radio technique and various procedures regarding radio operations.

Cadet Senior Airman Stevenson was one of Squadron 21's representatives at the training, and he participated in the ground team member training. In addition to classes, cadets had the opportunity for some outdoor activities such as hiking and team competition. Stevenson says, "My favorite part of the weekend was the TA [Tactical Advantage] we had with the cadets of the other squadron".