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20th Air Force commander visits Guernsey

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Gage
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. --  The 20th Air Force commander visited the Camp Guernsey Training Facility on Aug. 5 for an orientation tour of nuclear security forces training.

Maj. Gen. C. Donald Alston was briefed by Maj. Jeffrey Rowsey, 90th Ground Combat Training Squadron commander, on the capabilities and improvements being made of the training facility before touring the facility.

"The general visited to gain a familiarization on our mission at Guernsey, what support we offer and how we provide that support," Major Rowsey said.

General Alston met troops at the C and S Trading Post and Troop Morale Center before going to the field for operations demonstrations and hands-on testing of weapons used by members of the 90th GCTS.

Although Camp Guernsey is one of three pre-deployment and security forces training facilities along with Fort Dix, Trenton, N.J., and Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas; Guernsey is the only facility that supports nuclear security forces training.
Camp Guernsey was named the 2008 Air Force Small Security Forces Unit and has a perfect safety record.

The facility covers 66,000 acres, including 18 firing ranges, a live fire convoy and counter improvised explosive devise courses for service members on foot or in vehicles.

"We provide deploying personnel realistic ground combat skills," Major Rowsey said.
The 90th GCTS graduated 2,420 students in 2009, including Guard, Reserve and active-duty service members; 800 of those being Soldiers.

While on his tour of Camp Guernsey, the general was given a demonstration on the use of explosives to gain access into buildings and the procedures to clear structures room by room.

"You can't clear one room and assume it's safe," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Eberle, 90th GCTS nuclear training NCO in-charge at Camp Guernsey. "You have to go through the whole building."

The tour ended with a visit to a pop-up firing range at the facility where General Alston was given a familiarization opportunity with a few of the security forces training weapons. The weapons fired where the M24 barrett and M107 sniper rifles, along with an M4 carbine, the M2, M240b machine guns and an M249 automatic rifle. The general also tested a MK-19 automatic grenade launcher.

"It's good to get him out here to see what we do on a day-to-day basis," said David Lycan, 90th GCTS deputy commander. "This visit gave us a chance to showcase our mission and those who support it so well out here."