729 ACS participates in week long field training exercise

  • Published
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The 729th Air Control Squadron exercised their wartime mission this past week by providing communications and controlling airspace in a simulated bare base, hostile environment on the northside of the base.

"It is important we take every opportunity to ensure our unit is combat ready," said Lt. Col. Darin Humiston, 729th ACS commander. "I decided to conduct the training on a rural area of the base rather than convoy and setup operations in the Utah Test and Training Range in Southern Utah because it is more fiscally responsible."

Sixty-five Airmen from the squadron participated in the exercise, training as they would in actual combat.

"Although this training area isn't as all-inclusive as the UTTR, it is important we practice our core combat skills to ensure we are ready for deployments," said Humiston.

The 729th Air Control Squadron is one of three active duty units worldwide. The squadron has been continuously deploying in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom since 2003 and provides theater-level command and control of air power during war and other military operations.

In short, when deployed the squadron controls the air over their theater of operations.