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62nd AW participates in USASOC exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Tim Chacon
  • 62nd Airlfit Wing
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Starting at Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina and ending at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing participated in a training exercise May 2-3 sponsored by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

The three 62nd AW aircrews flying C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assisted in inserting more than 350 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, over a training area in Texas to simulate how a joint force would infiltrate and seize an airfield in hostile territory.

"This type of training is very realistic of how we would [enter] into a contested area with enemy close by so the troops can secure the airfield for future operations," said Capt. John Shaw, 62nd AW C-17 pilot. "This is about getting a small combat package into a secure area for more troops and cargo later on."

Along with the three 62nd AW C-17s from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington there were three C-17's from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina and one from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. Also intergraded in with the C-17s were C-130 Hercules, a KC-135 Stratotanker, a B-1 Lancer and a Navy EA-18G Growler.

"It doesn't really get more complex than what we are doing here," said Col. David Owens, 62nd Operations Group commander. "We had close air support integration, bomber integration, mixed formation with the C-130s, there is really nothing else we could add."

Although the plan for the exercise was complex and the timeline for the aircrews was compressed, the exercise was successful.

"It went very well. We were able to get all of the jumpers on the drop zone and they were able to complete their objectives," said Shaw. "The crews were able to a take 95 percent solution [from the mission planning cell] and execute it safely and accurately."
The aircrews are well trained in their flying responsibilities. The part that requires the most attention is the integration of Army needs.

"Our biggest concern was limited time to mission plan," said Shaw. "It is difficult to properly inject Army needs and give them what they want, in the amount of time we had."

As communication can be a  big challenge the  62nd AW aircrews have a leg up in bridging the gap and understanding the needs of their Army brethren.

"We really benefit from having the Army right next to us [on JBLM]," said Shaw. "They can come over for mission planning and we can communicate face-to-face about what they want and how we can or cannot provide that."

The window of time to get all the Soldiers out in time and to land on target is often very small.

This was Airman 1st Class Jeremy Kosick's, 8th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, first air drop of personnel.

"It was exciting, almost to an overwhelming point," said Kosick. "There was so many moving parts. It was fun. I wish there was more of it."

There has been and will continue to been an increase in these type of exercises for not just the 62nd AW, but all of Air Mobility Command.

"McChord will conduct one major exercise a month," said Owens.  "The air drop business has picked up in a big way all across AMC. There is a lot of fantastic training going on and [the crews] proficiency is going to go through the roof."