Four Little Rock aircrews take part in largest joint exercise formation

  • Published
  • By Capt. Joe Knable
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFNS) --  Four Little Rock Air Force Base aircrews took part in the largest formation ever assembled for a joint forcible entry exercise June 22 and 23 at Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg, N.C.

The formation of 18 Air Force cargo airplanes, featuring 10 C-130 Hercules aircraft and eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs from various Air Force bases, showcased the Army's 82nd Airborne Division's ability to gain operational access to denied terrain through a massive airdrop.

JFEX is the primary tool for the XVIII Airborne Corps (the Army's largest warfighting organization) and the 82nd Airborne Division's brigades to transfer real-world contingency operations and become a worldwide response force, Air Force officials said.

"Within 18 hours of notification, the 82nd Airborne Division strategically deploys, conducts forcible entry parachute assault and secures key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests," according to the 82nd Airborne Division mission statement.

Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, opened the exercise by highlighting its importance to participants.

In the two days of massive formation airdrops, the aircrews dropped the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the Global Response Team, the team that was dropped into Haiti.

The impact of having a mass airdrop over the drop zone in a short amount of time can't be overemphasized, General Helmick said.

"When the enemy sees this, it has a tremendous effect," he said. "When you put U.S. boots on the ground dropped by U.S. Air Force personnel, you send one heck of a signal."

Combat airlift is integral to Army paratroopers, said General Helmick.

"One of the things we've tried to do since our last exercise is to really try to market this (joint) capability (between the Soldiers and Airmen)," he said. "Every time we do one of these things I learn something from you guys, the Air Force ... You would not believe how important a loadmaster is to a paratrooper. Loadmasters are critical for us (who jump)."

The coordination for this massive production started long before the exercise kicked off. 

Both services began planning and discussing requirements for the exercise about two months before the exercise begins, said Capt. Michael Kissinger, a pilot from Little Rock AFB's 50th Airlift Squadron and a planner for this exercise.

The elaborate planning involves airspace requirements, load plans, maintenance schedules, timing of launching jets and even airplane parking.

Planning such a massive formation with two different types of aircraft is quite complex, Captain Kissinger said.

"You have to balance procedures and performance capabilities of two different aircraft to complete one cohesive airdrop," he said. 

For every crewmember of one 1962-model C-130E crew from Little Rock AFB's 53rd Airlift Squadron, this was either their first or second JFEX and a chance to do something they've never done before.

"It was pretty exciting," said Capt. Jason Robinson, the crew's co-pilot. "It takes all the training we do and puts it to the test. It's great to see all these little pieces fit together."

The first night, aircrews dropped more than 1,100 paratroopers.

This JFEX was a showcase and proving ground for cutting-edge airlift technology, such as in-transit visibility, which enables the forces to "know exactly where the cargo is so the Army doesn't have to come looking for it," said Col. Dean Bridger, the 818th Contingency Response Group commander.