News Search

Field Trainiing Exercise hosted at the 200th RED HORSE Det 1

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ashley Klase
  • 200 RED HORSE
MANSFIELD, Ohio -- --  Members of the 200th RED HORSE, Detachment 1, Mansfield, OH, performed various training exercises during a Field Training Exercise (FTX) on May 15 -18, 2015. The FTX is focused on simulating a deployed environment and defending against hostile enemy actions. The exercise was hosted at the 200th RED HORSE Det 1 in Mansfield Ohio. The Det is home to a 26 acre training site which was utilized for field housing as well as contingency training.

RED HORSE is an acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers and the unit is a civil engineering response force. They are self-sufficient, highly mobile, rapidly deployable military force that performs heavy damage repair to Air Force facilities, utility systems, and aircraft runways. In addition, RED HORSE, in austere bare environments, is able to initiate and sustain engineer support for the bed-down of weapon systems. The engineering squadron operates in the most remote hostile locations, and has the capability to operate in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives environments. They also train for peacetime operations and participate regularly in Joint Chiefs of Staff and major command exercises, and civic action programs.

The majority of the 2015 FTX was planned and organized by two outstanding Senior Airmen, Cory Bishop and Joseph Hall, Emergency Management personnel within the squadron. The training consisted of site development and preparation, expedient crater repair, tent erection, utility systems installation, revetment erection, defensive fighting positions, field messing, individual movement techniques, team movement techniques, troop leading procedures, weapons handling proficiency, air base defense, entry control point, convoy operations, communications procedures, work party/camp security, camouflage cover and concealment, Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU)  and CBRN Defense Survival skills. This exercise takes place each year to meet squadrons training requirements, and ensure that airmen are ready for potential deployments at all times. Maintaining the required skills allows RED HORSE to deploy at a moments' notice. Many of these trained skills also benefit the community greatly when it comes to state emergencies such as the recent Toledo Water Crisis, where we utilized our ROWPU training to provide potable water to the Toledo community in 2014. The FTX is an essential training opportunity that maintains RED HORSE airmen as a ready asset for both the State and Federal government.


HELPING AGENCIES & SUPPORT OFFICES