Video

Video by Senior Airman Robert Gunn

Joint Training Enhances Mission Capability

97th Air Mobility Wing

March 6, 2015 | 1:54

The M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Here it is nestled in the hills of Fort Carson, Colorado, a long way from its home in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. How did it get here? Well that’s where Altus Air Force Base comes in.

“We’re actually integrating a joint mission scenario so we’re taking a scenario that the Army generated and applying it to our exercise today. So it’s taking their objectives and our objectives and combining them together. So we’re flying up to Colorado Springs so they can practice the HIMARS mission.” - Capt Grant Behning - Training Flight Commander- 58th Airlift Squadron.

For both services this translates into real world mission capability.

“It’s as real as we can make it and again just the capability that we’ll be able to demonstrate today being able to roll off immediately from an airframe, the C-17, and then immediately go into our live fires, it’s just an amazing opportunity today.”-Lt. Col. Jon Maddaloni- Battalion Commander 1st Battalion 14th Field Artillery Regiment.

“So today we have multiple desired learning objectives we’re looking for mountainous, low level flight, VFR ridge crossings, and also integrating with our joint partners.” - Capt Grant Behning - Training Flight Commander- 58th Airlift Squadron.

But this training isn't just pilots, loadmasters, and soldiers. The airmen from the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron need to make sure this cargo is loaded just right.

“The way I play into it is just the go between, between the army unit and the aircraft that's doing the airlift. They can’t just roll up to an airplane and say take this. It doesn’t work that way, there are certain steps and procedures that have to happen and we’re the middle man for that, making sure it’s air worthy and nobody is going to get injured, nobody is going to get hurt, and safety of flights. – Staff Sergeant William Martineau- Aerial Operations Supervisor- 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron

A lot of work to make this happen but just as much reward, for the 97th Air Mobility Wing, I’m Senior Airman Robert Gunn.

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