News>Cross-country training pools experience, skills
Photos
Capt. Alex Waxman plays paintball during Leader, Ethos and Air Power Training Day Dec. 6, 2010, at Royal Air Force Marham, England. This activity required the team members to work together to capture the flag of the opposing team through planning, communication and physical stamina. Captain Waxman is a member of the 351st Air Refueling Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee)
Royal Air Force Senior Aircraftman Technician Martin Dovey, of the 31st Squadron at Royal Air Force Marham, England, brings a plastic box through a net tunnel as part of a team building exercise during Leader, Ethos and Air Power Training Day Dec. 6, 2010, at RAF Marham. Participants in station LEAP Day were taken from all sections of RAF Marham and RAF Mildenhall, England. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee)
U.S. and Royal Air Force airmen from RAF Mildenhall, England, and RAF Marham, England, participate in a team building exercise during Leader, Ethos and Air Power Training Day Dec. 6, 2010, at RAF Marham. LEAP was conducted in a safe training environment, allowing participants to show individual character, spirit and attitude while facing physical and mental challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee)
Tech. Sgt. Travis Romesha crosses an obstacle at the low-ropes course during Leader, Ethos and Air Power Training Day Dec. 6, 2010, at Royal Air Force Marham, England. Activities of the day included paintball, target practice, a low-ropes challenge and a mind-over-matter exercise. Sergeant Romesha is a member of the 100th Air Refueling Wing Inspections and Readiness Office. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee)
Airmen from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, and RAF Marham, England, help a teammate cross a set of ropes at the low-ropes course during Leader, Ethos and Air Power Training Day Dec. 6, 2010, at Royal Air Force Marham, England. This activity required leadership and mental and physical strength of participants to get all team members to the finishing point. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee)
by Senior Airman Tabitha M. Lee
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
12/10/2010 - ROYAL AIR FORCE MARHAM, England (AFNS) -- Members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing united with their Royal Air Force counterparts to build cross-service relationships and military skills during Leadership, Ethos and Air Power Day here Dec. 6.
Participants in station LEAP Day were taken from all sections of Royal Air Force Marham and RAF Mildenhall, England. They were broken into 16 teams, which performed various tasks, competing against each other for points.
Activities of the day included paintball capture the flag, target practice, a low-ropes challenge and a mind-over-matter exercise.
"The goal of station LEAP is to offer a fun and engaging training day to all personnel to develop station cohesion," said RAF Sgt. Dai Smoldon, from RAF Marham. "A competitive point-based scoring system further engenders team spirit; it helps to encourage team building, leadership, increased integration and personal development for RAF personnel."
Station LEAP Day is only one part of the overall LEAP process, and just one way the RAF force-development policy is delivered, Sergeant Smoldon said.
The primary purpose of force development is to prepare all service personnel, regardless of rank, to meet the challenges of operations and warfare through life experiences.
LEAP was conducted in a safe training environment, allowing participants to show individual character, spirit and attitude while facing physical and mental challenges.
"Teams were diverse with members from both the U.S. Air Force and RAF, including both officer and enlisted ranks," said Tech. Sgt. Travis Romesha, from the 100th ARW Inspections and Readiness Office. "All team members brought strengths to the different events."
Also during LEAP Day, servicemembers learned about the differences and similarities of the two forces.
"It was a great opportunity to work with RAF (Airmen) and see the different workings of the air force from another country," said Capt. Alex Waxman, of the 351st Air Refueling Squadron.
"The RAF airmen were outstanding, and working with them gave me a better understanding of their mission, lifestyle and unit structure," Sergeant Romesha said.
Capt. Lance Ratterman, of the 100th ARW Inspections and Readiness office, also had positive feedback on the experience.
"I liked almost everything about LEAP Day," he said. "Getting away from my computer (to) work with other Airmen from (RAF) Mildenhall and our RAF counterparts at RAF Marham was an awesome opportunity."
