Silver Flag is a mandatory training exercise every three years or before a deployment for support personnel.

“It’s a mix of lectures and hands-on training in tent construction and the management of the unique palletized expeditionary kitchen,” said the technical sergeant. Katherine Acton, 155th assistant dining room manager. “Then we all get together for the field training exercise at the end and apply what we’ve learned.”

Airmen from the 155th ARW participated in courses and field exercise alongside those from the active and reserve components.

“There was a mix of active, reserve and guard in our class, which was good to see how everyone functions,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Gubbels, 155th Services Flight Superintendent. “We separated into groups like command and control, accommodation and catering. I ended up working with only one person from Nebraska, so the training helps you get a different feel.

The total force environment went well, Acton said, and that the Nebraska Airmen knew their roles and responsibilities.

“We do such a good job with our docking readiness training that we already knew the information being taught,” Acton said. “There were people from the reserve bases who sat in class learning information that was completely new to them.”

Gubbels agreed with Acton’s comment about the overall experience at Silver Flag.

“It made me realize how good our docking station training is because other people were learning a lot and we already knew the course content,” Gubbels said. “Our class instructors said we were one of the best classes they had this year.”