Young men huddled around a smoldering, crackling fire. Warmth finally reached their operational camouflage patterned gear, tattered and damp from the cold, mountainous terrain of Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Their instructor’s eyes filled with reminiscent thoughts from a distance; those men earned a break. The sound of loud, barking orders turned to relaxed, congratulating suggestions to warm up and enjoy their successful completion of the week-long Combat Mission Ready check ride.
The brotherhood of this small career field took center stage as the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron hosted a CMR check ride for the newest team members of six different units from Nov. 17-22.