JBLM Airmen, Soldiers complete joint exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Jimenez
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD,Wash. --  Working side by side in the darkness of the early morning hours of Sept. 19 at McChord Field, Airmen and Soldiers checked gauges, took measurements and made weight calculations for two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems prior to loading them onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

The units were being prepared for the HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) Exercise involving Airmen from the 4th Airlift Squadron and Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, HIMARS, 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade.

The HI-RAIN exercise, which was part of a larger scale exercise called Coalition Virtual Flag 13-4, consisted of using a C-17 to transport the HIMARS units and their crews from McChord Field to Schoonover, Calif., which acted as a simulated deployed environment. Once in Schoonover, crews would simulate engaging a stationary target using the HIMARS and would then be immediately extracted by C-17 from the launch site.

The exercise was an opportunity for both services to get hands-on experience with rapid deployment using joint assets.

"This is a key aspect of deploying these units," said Sgt. 1st Class Monty Morrow, Battery A 1-94 FAR platoon sergeant. "It is essential that these crews can proficiently load and unload them onto a C-17 in a timely manner so that in a deployed environment, we can get in, launch and get out before the enemy knows we're there."

Loading the HIMARS launchers onto the C-17, Tech. Sgt. Josh Piper, 4th AS instructor loadmaster, directed each driver as they backed the 32,000 pound vehicles onto the aircraft. Piper was responsible for ensuring they were properly positioned so that the aircraft would maintain the correct center of gravity throughout the flight. Upon positioning each of the two units in the aircraft, Piper oversaw the process of chaining them down, ensuring the chains were correctly positioned and tightened in accordance with established standards.

The joint exercise provided a unique experience for many of the members involved.

"I've never loaded anything like this before," said Airman 1st Class Shaun Chapman, 4th AS loadmaster.

Once fully loaded and secure, the C-17 took off from McChord Field and began the 90 minute flight to Schoonover.

As the aircraft approached Schoonover, pilots established ground communication with Staff Sgt. Chris Sanguinetti and Staff Sgt. Michael Strelow, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron combat controllers, who cleared them for landing onto the semi-prepared dirt runway.

Using forward controllers and a less-than-optimal runway for landing provided the exercise participants with a more realistic simulation of a wartime operation.

"This was a great opportunity to practice using a capability we don't get to utilize often," Said Capt. Chris Costly, 4th AS pilot and aircraft mission commander. "This was only my second time performing a semi-prepared runway operations landing."

As the C-17 touched down on the runway in Schoonover, and came to a stop, with engines still running, Airmen and Soldiers scurried to unchain the HIMARS units. As the aircrew lowered the rear ramp, the HIMARS crews off-loaded the launchers and headed toward the designated firing point.

Upon completing the simulated live fire, the crews raced back to the aircraft where loadmasters awaited their return. Within 45 minutes of landing, Airmen, Soldiers and artillery were securely back aboard the C-17 and airborne again, heading back to McChord Field.

The C-17 touched down back McChord field, successfully completing the exercise in just five hours.


(Video by Army Staff Sgt. Justin Kuhl, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)