by Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
8/19/2011 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) -- The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center launched its Eagle Flag Exercise Aug. 13, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The first week of the two-week exercise is designed to simulate unloading and the transportation of cargo received in a deployed environment.
A joint task force-port opening, or JTF-PO, at the Lakehurst airfield is conducted by members of the 108th Contingency Response Group, from Joint Base MDL, and the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
A JTF-PO is a process to quickly open and establish logistical support and open distribution nodes immediately after securing an area, according to U.S. Transportation Command.
"The purpose of this specific exercise is for the two units to come together as a joint force ... as a team, to facilitate forward movement of cargo," said Ed Parriski, the Expeditionary Center scenario analyst.
These units will face a variety of scenarios, interacting and working with role-playing locals and will face an abundance of different scenarios throughout the week.
"Eagle Flag is an excellent venue for units to practice working together as a team," said Col. Kenneth D'Alfonso, the 633rd Mission Support Group commander from Joint Base LE. "The EC has provided a unique opportunity for those participating to learn and build upon their expeditionary skills."
The 108th CRG provided the air mobility component. The group will be evaluated and examined on their capabilities to receive cargo from an aircraft to supply troops on the ground.
The 688th RPOE's role in the exercise will be to receive the cargo brought in by the 108th CRG and distribute it to forward nodes.
The scenario is a simulation of three fictional countries located on one island. The units conducting the JTF-PO will be located in an ally country bordering countries which have an Al-Qaeda presence and anti-U.S. sentiment.
The exercise is designed to simulate operations in a deployed environment while challenging combatant commanders and operations with scenarios faced downrange. The U.S. Forces must be able to provide a rapid, tailored response to a variety of universal situations. The exercise and associated training brings together those expeditionary support skills a combatant commander needs to execute the assigned mission in a realistic contingency environment, according to the EC website at www.expeditionarycenter.af.mil.
Comments
8/25/2011 2:50:29 PM ET Great comment but your facts are not correct. A TALCE does not exists anymore. A TALCE has evolved into a CRG and has been proven to be a vital resource to the Air Force. I just thought you should know the correct facts.
Mobility Joe, Luke AFB AZ
8/22/2011 5:57:02 PM ET Who is going to open an airfield CRG or CCT with the 82nd or 101st Airborne beating down the door, followed by RED HORSE, TALCE, and Combat Comm? The CRG is great for opening airfields at Lakehurst, so I suppose if we ever go to war with New Jersey we know who'll be getting the call.
