Members of the Maine Air National Guard’s 101st Security Forces Squadron recently concluded a demanding capstone exercise at Pickerel Pond, marking the end of more than a year of preparation focused squarely on airbase ground defense. Across coverage from the National Guard and Air National Guard, officials detailed how the drill challenged participating Airmen to seize an austere airfield, establish and maintain perimeter security, and rehearse critical defensive operations in an unfamiliar environment.
Returning to Core Foundations at Pickerel Pond
The immersive field training marked the first time in many years that the squadron had undertaken this specific type of field training. For many participants, operating in the unfamiliar terrain of Pickerel Pond provided an entirely new experience to test their tactical skills. The location was deliberately chosen at the request of the participating Airmen who wanted a contained, challenging environment for the capstone event.
“This is just a return to the original foundations, one of the tenets, one of the core competencies of our profession,” said Capt. Joshua Stevens, commander of the 101st Security Forces Squadron. “We have to be good at this. This is what’s going to be asked of us: to go to an austere location to seize an area that can support air traffic, to hold it and be able to push whatever the manpower and materials are through that area and take the fight to the enemy.”
Maine Army National Guard Provides Logistical Support
Planning and coordinating the exercise presented significant hurdles, requiring the leadership team to synchronize personnel, equipment, and resources well in advance. To pull off the scenario, the squadron coordinated closely with outside military partners.
Crucial logistical support came from the Maine Army National Guard, which provided transportation via UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. This integration added a mobility element to the training scenario, mirroring the complex deployment dynamics Security Forces face downrange.
“When they’re doing this, they’re not out there alone. It all comes down to teamwork,” said Tech. Sgt. Philip Slick, highlighting the reliance on mutual support during field operations. “When everyone starts thinking like that, then you have a really good cohesive team.”
Testing Defensive and Retake Operations
The core curriculum of the capstone exercise centered on preparing personnel to defend an installation against hostile threats and to rehearse operations necessary to retake an airfield previously seized by an opposing force. By operating outside their home station, Security Forces members gained a clearer baseline of their operational readiness, identifying specific areas for improvement when responding to simulated threats in a deployed setting.
Reflecting on the successful execution of the training, Stevens commended wing leadership for backing the initiative and thanked the Army National Guard for providing both the Pickerel Pond venue and the Black Hawk air support. He also praised the tenacity and drive displayed by his Airmen throughout the rigorous field work.
“Hopefully, as people reflect on this, they understand that they are more capable than they believed themselves to be, they understand what it is that we’re asking them to do and they’ve been shown what right looks like and they’re able to put that into practice,” Stevens added. “Hopefully, we showed them that their own capability was higher than they may well have thought, which will do nothing but really accelerate our training as we get ready for the next event.”
