Barksdale participates in upcoming CORE

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean Martin
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale, home of Air Force Global Strike Command, will conduct a Phase II Conventional Operational Readiness Exercise Feb. 22-25.

A CORE tests the wing's ability to conduct a conventional mission. It evaluates how it can perform in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives type environment and also during pre-, trans- and post- attacks.

"We are exercising the wing's ability to conduct the conventional mission, and there is generally a lot of flying to show that we can hold to the mission," said Capt. Matthew Anderson, 2nd Bomb Wing chief of exercises and plans.

Phase I of a CORE consists on loading cargo onto aircraft, processing Airmen through the deployment lines and preparing both to deploy.

The Phase II portion consists of Airmen who are already in place ready for the fight and aircraft flying sorties.

"We are simulating that the base will be in the eighth day of war," said Captain Anderson. "The maintainers will have to show they can generate aircraft in a quick manner, security forces will show how they can protect and guard things on base and services will have to show they can support an increased tempo."

Many changes will occur during this exercise, and it will affect all.

Service members on base, retirees and dependents, can expect a few changes that will occur around base, said Captain Anderson. People can expect to see potential road closures near the exercise area, temporary gate closures, alternate routes and increased force protection condition measures. On the afternoon of Feb. 24, the medical clinic will not schedule any appointments. The base exchange and commissary will not be included in the exercise.

Captain Anderson stated all of these changes will only be temporary. During FPCON Delta, we would normally shut the gates permanently, but during the exercise it would just be temporary, he added.

A CORE is only required once a year for the base. Barksdale will be evaluated by the exercise evaluation team on how Team Barksdale reacts during certain scenarios. They will observe events around base and then report their findings to the base commander.

"If nothing is found every time we conduct these exercises, then something is wrong," said Capt. Brad DeSmith, 2 BW chief of wing exercises and evaluations. "Because as many moving parts as this wing has, there is bound to be a few problems that need to be addressed."

"We are going to try our hardest to minimize as many inconveniences on base people may encounter," concluded Captain Anderson. "If we all cooperate and work together, this should be a good exercise."