Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 700th Contracting Squadron, 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron and 52nd CONS pose for a group photo on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. These Airmen participated in a contracting training event simulating a deployed environment, which serves as an annual requirement for their career field. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)
The 700th Contracting Squadron hosted exercise Freedom’s Guardian June 28-29 at Ramstein Air Base.
The exercise is designed to prepare Airmen who have never deployed before for a EUCOM-based scenario where they focused on supporting allies and strategic partners in the region, and forward operations units.
“It really is the first building block to give Airmen the technical expertise, but also getting them used to operating in this type of environment,” said Lt. Col. Kenneth Herringdine, 700th CONS commander. “Getting them in this bare-base type setup helps change their mindset from operating out of the office.”
Airmen from the 700th CONS, 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, 52nd CONS and 435th Construction and Training Squadron partnered for the training exercise.
Forward operating bases have been the focus of the 700th CONS’ contracting support since 2006, however, many Airmen from the 700th CONS have never deployed before.
“In a setting like this, not only do you get one mentor, sometimes you get multiple between the Wing Inspection Team and the trainers,” said Staff Sgt. Kent Pendleton, 700 CONS unit training manager. “It’s something that I wish younger Airman Pendleton would have had the chance prior to my first deployment to do, so I think it’s awesome.”
This year’s Freedom’s Guardian focused on increasing the readiness of the participating Airmen, enabling them to support any mission they are tasked with. The training serves to help Airmen execute the 86th Airlift Wing’s mission of building Airmen, projecting power and building partners.
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 700th Contracting Squadron present their contract they created for a training exercise to a contracting specialist on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. As a part of the exercise, the participating Airmen presented their contract to the commander of the 700th CONS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 700th Contracting Squadron, 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron and 52nd CONS wait for a contracting training exercise to begin on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. The exercise takes place annually to give Airmen an opportunity to train in a simulated deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 700th Contracting Squadron train during a contracting exercise on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. The exercise takes place annually to give Airmen an opportunity to train in a simulated deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)
U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Jacob Hawkins, a contracting specialist from the 700th Contracting Squadron, folds a box on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. The boxes were used as a part of a contracting exercise to show an order with its requirements fulfilled. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)
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