Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing and 690th Rapid Port Opening work together to move cargo at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., during the Eagle Flag 13-1 exercise March 13, 2013. The Joint Task Force-Port Opening was tested on their ability to quickly establish operations, provide their own security, track cargo and personnel and move supplies from the planes to customers quickly and efficiently. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)
Members of the 571st Contingency Response Group assessment team prepare to load cargo onto a Humvee during the Eagle Flag 13-1 exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 12, 2013. The Joint Task Force-Port Opening was tested on their ability to quickly establish operations, provide their own security, track cargo and personnel and move supplies from the planes to customers quickly and efficiently. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)
Col. Mitch Monroe, Col. John Hanlon and Army Maj. Keith Pruett tour the simulated village of Sabor, Nessor, during Eagle Flag 13-1, March 8-15, 2013. The village and its natives were part of the exercise, and commanders worked to establish and sustain local partnerships in their "deployed environment." Monroe is the 571st Contigency Response Group commander, Hanlon is the 621st Contingency Response Wing individual mobile augmentee and Pruett is the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Brooke Brzozowske)
Senior Airman James Burbage sets up command and control during Eagle Flag 13-1 exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 11, 2013. The Joint Task Force-Port Opening was tested on its ability to quickly establish operations, provide security, track cargo and personnel and move supplies from the planes to customers quickly and efficiently. Burbase is a 621st Contingency Response Wing communications specialist.(U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Brooke Brzozowske)
Staff Sgt. Chris Morales updates reports at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., during the Eagle Flag 13-1 exercise March 12, 2013. The Joint Task Force-Port Opening was tested on its ability to quickly establish operations, provide security, track cargo and personnel and move supplies from the planes to customers quickly and efficiently. Morales is a Joint Task Force Panther mobile command and control controller. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)
An Airman operates a forklift during the Eagle Flag 13-1 exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 14, 2013. The Joint Task Force-Port Opening was tested on their ability to quickly establish operations, provide their own security, track cargo and personnel and move supplies from the planes to customers quickly and efficiently. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)
by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
3/25/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) -- Approximately 120 members from the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and fifty 690th Rapid Port Opening Element Soldiers from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., sharpened their Joint Task Force-Port Opening skills during Exercise Eagle Flag 13-1 here March 8 through15.
The Airmen and Soldiers supported regional stability operations in the fictitious country of "Sillem". The units operated out of the fictitious "Kingdom of Nessor" at the request of the Nessorian government and worked closely with local authorities to provide support for ongoing operations. The joint task force was tasked to open an aerial port of debarkation and forward distribution node to establish theater logistics flow in support of the coalition in counter terrorism operations.
"It's important to have this training because we don't get this type of opportunity very often," said Maj. Barry Nichols, the 571st Global Mobility Squadron commander. "Coming to (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst) to exercise with the Army in a simulated deployed environment provides us greater opportunities that we wouldn't get otherwise."
Eagle Flag is an Air Force Chief of Staff-directed recurring exercise that is executed by the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center. The exercise is mandated to test and rehearse the expeditionary combat support capabilities the Air Force provides to combatant commanders during humanitarian operations and other contingencies. Lessons learned during Eagle Flag are used to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for expeditionary combat support Airmen.
"There is nothing that simulates the importance and the competence of a JTF-PO," said Maj. Keith Pruett, the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element commander. "This is the only platform that currently allows us to replicate the stress, environment, cargo and the real-world conditions that come with living in the field."
The Airmen and Soldiers not only dealt with the pressures and stress of the exercise scenarios, but were also dealt a hand by Mother Nature. During the week, temperatures averaged in the mid 30s to low 40s with some rainfall and snow showers. Dealing with adverse weather conditions didn't keep the team from completing its mission.
According to Nichols, working with the Army was an excellent experience.
"Working with our Army brothers from the 690th RPOE really allows us the opportunity to fine-tune our mission of deploying versatile mobility Airmen disciplined to solve problems in complex environments."
"You can always tell the measure of a person's character," Pruett said. "But you really don't know how strong that character is until it's been tested. Seeing how the Airmen and Soldiers were tested and performed this week helps me sleep at night."
Exercise Eagle Flag, a validation event, is a biennial requirement and is the contingency response groups' equivalent of an operational readiness inspection.
The JTF-PO commander echoed Pruett's comments and said the JTF-PO Airmen and Soldiers who participated in this exercise met all U.S. Transportation Command verification requirements.
"You all did an outstanding job," said Col. Mitchel Monroe, 571st Contingency Response Group commander and JTF-PO commander. "What we did this week during Eagle Flag is amazing and, if we get the call, we will make that mission happen exactly as advertised. You have proven yourselves this week."
