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621 CRW, 60 AMW conduct local Gladiator Challenge exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AFB, Calif. --  The 621st Contingency Response Wing along with the 60th Air Mobility Wing completed a local exercise called Gladiator Challenge at Travis AFB flightline, Sept. 4-7.

The exercise scenario included the CRW providing a contingency response team to respond to a simulated devastating earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area, which displaced 750,000 simulated people. The small CRT team provided initial command and control for C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to bring in relief supplies to include food, shelter (tents) and equipment to rebuild the affected areas.

"The cost effectiveness of utilizing local assets provided both wings training at a fraction of the cost of off-station training and it kept all assets readily available to meet our real-world, 12-hour notification cycle," said Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Griffin, 573rd Global Support Squadron combat support training NCOIC. "This exercise also allowed both wings to strengthen ties and complete mission essential training tasks."

The CRT was able to use these sorties as an in-garrison training opportunity without deploying to an off-station exercise. This training is critical because the 571st Contingency Response Group is currently sitting alert and not able to get out on the normal exercises they are used to attending. During this exercise the CRT deployed to the base flightline and set-up operations. Maintenance personnel performed all preflight and quick-turn maintenance during the exercise, which is a critical skill set during deployed operations.

Aerial porters set up a robust training plan and brought out "user" cargo that was joint inspected and prepped for shipment. They were able to load all of this equipment numerous times on the local sorties as they would be doing in the deployed environment as well. Communications, command and control and ramp coordinators also received valuable training setting up the truck and trailer, as well as all the communication equipment associated with the CRT.

"This exercise could not have happened without the 60th," said Master Sgt. Bryan Forsyth, 571st Global Mobility Squadron DOO flight chief. "It is very important for us to have a great working relationship with the host wing. We hope to continue working alongside our Team Travis brethren in future operations."

The contingency response wing deploys mobility operations and builds partner capacity across the globe. The CRW extends AMC's global reach by mobilizing the fight, providing relief and advancing peace. The wing's personnel are trained to adapt and overcome difficult circumstances, while accelerating air mobility operations anywhere in the world.