MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen from the 6th Air Refueling Wing participated in a Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercise here Nov. 1-7.
The NORE provides service members with skills for success and how to be prepared for any potential future conflicts with our pacing adversaries.
“We need to recognize the potential for nuclear conflict is a universal threat,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Adam Bingham, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander. “Our units need to come together as a team to prove to our adversaries that we are always ready.”
No occupation is more imperative than the next; each service member plays a key role in supporting MacDill’s mission.
“Our role is to make sure that everything is ready to go for the service member, including information briefs, dog tags, gear, orders and proper documentation,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Abigail Hudson, 6th Force Support Squadron. “That the service member is processed in a timely manner and accounted for.”
Airmen completed various scenarios throughout the week-long exercise including going through a personnel deployment function line and preparing and boarding several KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft within a moment’s notice.
“If someone is not ready to leave,” said Hudson. “We take the necessary steps to accomplish what is needed to go.”
Exercises like the NORE serve to create environments for members to accelerate change and will continue to make Team MacDill stronger.
"Recent Russian aggression, Chinese rhetoric and DPRK [North Korea] actions prove that the threat of nuclear conflict is realistic," said Bingham. "Team Six will continue to stand ready for the nation and fulfill our mission of delivering hope and projecting violence if and when required."