Exercise Eagle Flag tests USTRANSCOM joint task force teams

Published Sept. 24, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Airmen of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron recently worked hand-in-hand with senior representatives from U.S. Transportation Command to test and verify the ability of several mobility-focused organizations to perform critical warfighter support while operating in a fictitious forward location during Air Force Exercises Eagle Flag 12-3 and 12-4 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

More than 250 participants from two Air Force Contingency Response Groups and one U.S. Army Rapid Port Opening Element "deployed" to the Lakehurst side of the joint base to demonstrate each unit's ability to arrive at an austere airfield, receive airlifted cargo, move the cargo by truck to a forward location and stage it for distribution. The exercise featured actual C-17 Globemaster sorties carrying real-world cargo, and increased realism through the use of role-playing host nation military members, villagers and opposing forces.

"Exercise Eagle Flag is one of the most realistic training venues the Air Force has to offer. It allows service members to not only execute the skills they practice year-round, but also provides a chance to operate in a joint environment," said Capt. James Clark, Eagle Flag cadre from the 421st Combat Tactics Squadron. "Eagle Flag cadre ensure there is a well-planned scenario or exercise inject for every difficult situation a joint force might incur during a deployment to fully challenge all participants. From the newest Airmen to the Joint Task Force-Port Opening commander, all ranks will be adequately challenged in preparation for real world activities."

The 421st cadre, as tasked by the Center's Expeditionary Operation School, facilitated the exercise and observed the ability of the 818th Contingency Response Group from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. and 108th Contingency Response Group from the New Jersey Air National Guard, also from JB M-D-L, to deploy to a fictional foreign country, receive cargo at a host-nation airfield and distribute the cargo to a forward distribution node under a concept known as Joint Task Force Port Opening. The exercise not only tested the U.S. Air Force active duty and National Guard Contingency Response Groups, but also required them to partner with the U.S. Army's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element from Fort Eustis, Va, forming one joint task force instead of separate services performing parallel mission sets, according to Eagle Flag officials.

USTRANSCOM uses the Eagle Flag training scenario to verify the units involved in the exercise are trained, equipped and prepared to perform the JTF-PO mission anywhere in the world if they are called upon to do so, officials said.

"The EC and verification representatives from USTRANSCOM did a good job balancing exercise and verification requirements, and the overall result was valuable training for the JTF-PO," said Col. Kevin Oliver, 818th Contingency Response Group commander from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and JTF-PO commander during 12-3. "EF provided an excellent venue for key aspects of the CRG and JTF-PO missions that we don't get a chance to practice, especially in a joint environment."

USAF Expeditionary Center Commander, Major General Bill Bender, expressed his pleasure with the growing partnership between the center and USTRANSCOM.

"In collaboration with USTRANSCOM, we have made great strides to make EAGLE FLAG an unsurpassed venue to test the operational capability of JTF-PO forces. Our intent is to foster and mature our relationship with USTRANSCOM," he said.

The exercise also tasked the participants to coordinate their actions and work with the fictional host-nation military, known as the Royal Nessorian Air Force, which served as the facilitator for airfield support, official authority of the area, and primary liaison for coordinating engagement with local leaders in the notional country of Nessor.

"Having worked building partnership missions in previous assignments, I can honestly say that EF condensed every challenge I've encountered in dealing with various host nations over a four-year period into one week," Oliver said. "The cadre from the EC and the 421st brought a lot of energy to the exercise, and provided the 818th CRG and the 689th RPOE with the perfect opportunity to enact our vision to lead, execute, and engage: lead airmen and soldiers to prevail over every endeavor, execute expeditionary operations with speed and precision, and engage with joint and coalition partners to dominate contingency response."

Additionally, members of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force observed the first exercise and participated in the second, exercising their ability to take control of the operation once American forces handed off responsibility upon their departure.

As the second Air Force unit to participate in the two-week exercise, the 108th Contingency Response Group was responsible for the hand-off of the newly created base to follow-on United Kingdom forces at the same time the group was preparing to re-deploy. Col. Robert Brazel, 108th CRG commander, felt the unique twist was a useful opportunity for future operations, real-world and training with the RAF.

"(The scenario) was extremely helpful - for us and the RAF," he said. "I believe this is the beginning of a long lasting relationship ... We are all looking forward to future dialogue and exchange of information. The dialogue was good and thought provoking, and should lead to future conversations. "

Eagle Flag 12-4 evaluated the 108th CRG's ability to perform the same mission the 818th was tested on the prior week. The 108th has previously participated in Eagle Flag as they are continuing to prepare their group to become operational for real-world missions. Eagle Flag continues to be a venue for the organization to train and hone the unique mission sets required for JTF-PO operations.

"For this EF we brought all of our own equipment and people; in past years we have had to borrow from our active duty counterparts and sister Guard unit," said Col. Robert Brazel, 108th CRG commander. "So the preparation and packing was more intense and akin to what we would have to do on a real-world deployment. The whole JTF-PO concept and operations is a continuous and evolving process - this is one of the few times that we actually get to interact with the "mission owners" and give our inputs."

The Expeditionary Center offers Eagle Flag as a realistic and challenging venue to ensure units are continually tested and prepared to respond to worldwide contingencies.

"We take great pride in being the Air Force's Center of Excellence for Expeditionary Combat Support training and education," said Bender. "Exercise Eagle Flag will continue to be a shining example of how our ECS experts can build training and exercises, in coordination with other key units and organizations, which prepare our nation's 911 forces to respond successfully to real world challenges."