U.S., South Korean Airmen exercise port opening capability

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
POHANG AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  Approximately 60 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, 30 U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element stationed at JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and a few dozen South Korean air force members participated in a Joint Task Force-Port Opening force supporting Exercise Turbo Distribution17-3 at Pohang Air Base, April 9, 2017.

“This marks the first time the CRW has conducted a JTF-PO exercise working along-side (South Korean) forces,” said Col. Leslie Maher, the JTF-PO commander. “Exercises such as this one promote interoperability and teamwork across the joint community, inter-agency partners, host-nation forces and allies.”

The five-day exercise validates the proficiency to rapidly respond with aerial port opening capabilities as part of a JTF-PO. A JTF-PO establishes a forward operating location where forces can quickly gather and disseminate cargo, forces and airpower to locations in support of a contingency or relief mission. The CRW is exercising its ability to provide this capability in a time of need.

Exercise Turbo Distribution was part of a larger scale exercise called Operation Pacific Resolve, a bilateral training event that highlights combined and joint multi-domain, multi-nodal capabilities by exercising an area distribution center, air terminal supply point, logistics over the shore, coastal lift operations and the use of rail and inland waterways to validate the operational reach concept.

“The 621st CRW regularly trains as part of U.S. Transportation Command’s JTF-PO with (689th) RPOE and Defense Logistics Agency personnel on a quarterly basis to maintain proficiency and to develop familiarity between the units,” Maher said. “It allows us to maintain readiness and prepare for real-world deployments that may require us to go out the door on a moment’s notice. In addition, it allows my members to see how their piece fits into the much larger multi-nodal picture when supporting the core warfighting effort.”

The 621st CRW provides the core cadre of expeditionary command and control, airlift and air refueling operations, aerial port and aircraft maintenance personnel for deployment worldwide as mobility control teams and airfield assessment teams. These teams rapidly survey, assess and establish contingency air base operations and expand existing combatant command support infrastructure worldwide. The CRW has units continuously on alert and is ready to deploy anywhere in the world in support of contingency and relief operations, such as natural disasters, within 12 hours of notification.