KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. -- Airmen from the 173rd Fighter Wing strengthened their readiness and lethality during Shoot, Move and Communicate (SMC) training conducted at Kingsley Field, Oregon, April 27–30.
Nineteen maintainers participated in the intensive training led by cadre from the 173rd Security Forces Squadron, including Master Sgt. Will Griffith, Tech. Sgt. Dylan Steege, Tech. Sgt. Erik Pena, Staff Sgt. Travis Nelson and Staff Sgt. Justyn Headley.
The four-day course focused on core Air Base Ground Defense concepts designed to prepare Airmen for operations in contested environments. Training included weapons familiarization with the M4 carbine and M18 handgun, routines of defense, priorities of work, individual and team movement techniques, and building-clearing procedures. The event culminated in force-on-force building-clearing scenarios inside the shoot house using opposition forces and simunition rounds.
The training supports Kingsley Field’s broader effort to develop proficient Airmen capable of defending personnel and resources in future conflicts.
“This training had two significant impacts on the readiness and lethality of Kingsley’s Airmen,” said Griffith. “It provided basic familiarization of SMC to a population of the base, highlighting their weaknesses and strengths and hopefully inspiring them to sharpen further their warrior skills and ethos.”
The training also supports evolving Department of the Air Force priorities centered on readiness for contested environments and distributed operations.
Col. Damian Schlussel, director of Security Forces, emphasized the importance of adapting to emerging threats in his strategic vision for the force.
“We cannot be okay with ‘that’s the way it’s always been,’” said Schlussel. “Missions change, threats evolve, new technology is available, manpower shifts.”
According to Griffith, future joint force missions may require small teams of Airmen operating with limited communications in austere locations across the Indo-Pacific region.
“The skills these maintainers learned in this initial SMC training could become the difference between life and death on small islands in the Pacific,” said Griffith.
The event also provided Security Forces personnel an opportunity to sharpen their own instructional and operational capabilities while building a larger pool of trained augmentees to support installation defense.
“The defense of Kingsley Field and our future assets cannot rest on the shoulders of the 173rd SFS alone,” said Griffith. “It is a total wing imperative. Integrating our maintainers into base defense operations is the first critical step in building a truly multi-capable, impenetrable force.”
The need for additional trained personnel is expected to increase as Kingsley Field prepares for the arrival of the F-35 and works toward its 2027 operational goals.
“Tomorrow’s conflicts will not afford us the luxury of massive, secure air bases,” said Griffith. “As we prepare for the F-35 and the 2027 horizon, the ability of our Airmen to shoot, move and communicate is not just a capability, it is a baseline requirement for survival.”
Lt. Col. Richard Schuster, commander of the 173rd Maintenance Squadron, said the training aligns with a two-part vision established by wing leadership: augmenting Security Forces manpower during the aircraft transition period through Aug. 1, 2027, and preparing Airmen to respond to emerging threats associated with future peer conflicts.
“The MXG was asked to assist with a vision from our wing commander to build security in-depth during a possible future conflict,” said Schuster. “We wanted teams that understood small-unit tactics for close-quarter combat, facility defense, especially when F-35 aircraft and associated assets are on station.”
Schuster said maintainers participating in the training are organized into geographically aligned teams within the maintenance complex and will continue repetitive training alongside Security Forces personnel to strengthen long-term proficiency.
So far, approximately 25 maintenance Airmen have volunteered to serve as Security Forces augmentees.
Tech. Sgt. Erik Pena said the maintainers demonstrated strong motivation throughout the course.
“The maintainers were awesome to work with,” said Pena. “They kept the motivation high the entire time, which made for a great experience for our cadre. We’re looking forward to getting into some more advanced training with them in the future.”
Wing leadership emphasized that readiness remains central to the mission at Kingsley Field.
“Readiness is not an option, and tomorrow is too late,” said Col. Adam Gaudinski, commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing.
Leaders from both the 173rd Security Forces Squadron and Maintenance Group plan to expand the training in the future, though additional manpower and wing support will be required to sustain the effort.