NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- 24 personnel from the 30th Aerial Port Squadron here deployed to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington to participate in a two-week long multi-branch, multi-national exercise headed by Air Mobility Command.
The exercise, named Mobility Guardian, kicked off on July 31st and ran through August 12th 2017. More than 3,000 personnel including Army, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as troops and equipment from roughly 30 countries took part. Thirteen C-17 Globemaster IIIs, 20 C-130 Hercules, nine KC-135 Stratotankers, two KC-10 Extender tankers, and aircraft from four allied nation participants were involved. The exercise included the performance of hundreds of cargo and personnel drops. Fighter and attack aircraft kept watch and performed their own missions overhead.
Participation in such a momentous exercise gave 30 APS the opportunity to meet challenges and learn what to expect in a deployed environment. “It was definitely eye-opening to see how AMC operates on rapid mobility…” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Peppers, 30 APS Air Transportation Superintendent, “and working with all the foreign services.”
30 APS initially deployed to McChord where aircraft services and load planning were performed. Other 30 APS personnel moved onto Fairchild AFB where similar tasks were performed; and Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field which functioned as the drop zone.
The deployment cycle for 30 APS begins in spring 2018 and will run through the fall. Many who participated in Mobility Guardian may deploy next year, some for the first time in their careers. As is the aim with any training, they will be able to take their exercise experience and apply it to real world situations.