McConnell participates in multi-lateral exercise

Capt. Chase Crosby and Capt. Justin Davis, 384th Air Refueling Squadron pilots, perform a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft systems prior to taking off in support of a multi-lateral sortie, June 21, 2010. This inspection identifies any system not performing correctly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abigail Klein)

McConnell participates in multi-lateral exercise

Senior Airman Andrew Deck, 384th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, performs a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft systems prior to taking off in support of a multi-lateral sortie, June 21, 2010. This inspection aides in identifying any systems that may malfunction during the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abigail Klein)

McConnell participates in multi-lateral exercise

A group of KC-135 Stratotankers on the flightline prior to taking off in support of a multi-lateral sortie June 24, 2010. McConnell’s primary mission is to provide Global Reach by conducting air refueling and airlift missions where and when needed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Abigail Klein)

McConnell participates in multi-lateral exercise

Capt. Michael Wilkes, 384th Air Refueling Squadron navigator, measures the wavelengths and course of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a multi-lateral sortie June 24, 2010. The navigator’s primary responsibility is to be aware of the aircraft’s position at all times. The exercise provided special operation air refueling training for three Stratotanker navigators assigned to McConnell. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Abigail Klein)

McConnell participates in multi-lateral exercise

Published June 29, 2010
By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Team McConnell Airmen recently returned after concluding participation in a multi-lateral exercise in the northwestern United States June 25.

The exercise, a 10-day joint operation that included Army participation, tested not only McConnell's non-stop Special Operations Air Refueling capabilities but also its ability to forward deploy and generate aircraft in support of SOAR missions without home station support.

"This joint exercise is normally performed three times a year in the northwest region of the country, and touches almost all branches of the military," said Lt. Col. Pamela Freeland, 22nd Operations Group Special Operations Air Refueling chief. "This exercise gives us a chance to practice different operations as part of the whole joint special ops package."

This exercise provided critical training to prepare ground and aircrew for last-minute deployments to overseas contingency operations with five McConnell KC-135 Stratotankers providing air refueling to the other aircraft participating in the exercise, and four of the five aircraft assisting in the SOAR certification of navigators.

"Since no other KC-135 unit does SOAR, no other KC-135 unit has navigators," Colonel Freeland said. "When our navigators deploy, it is to either fly SOAR missions or manage the KC-135 part of special operations at the staff level meaning whether on a crew or on staff at this M-Lat, this is their unique opportunity to train for a real-world mission."
KC-135s flew more than 20 sorties during the exercise.

"[This exercise] is a good platform for deployment training and practicing for last minute deployments," said Maj. Samuel Dickson, 384th Air Refueling Squadron pilot. "At any moment, if we get the call that we need to support special forces around the world, we are required to take however many aircraft needed to fulfill that mission, all the maintenance support and any additional support to be self sufficient anywhere around the globe."

The amount of sorties not only provided participants with deployment training, it also provided the Airmen an opportunity to practice setting up deployment location almost from the ground up.

"What's unique about this location is that we're not technically at a military base, although the Air National Guard is here supporting us, we don't have the same infrastructure that a full active-duty base would have," said Colonel Freeland. "This gives us a unique opportunity to see how well we can integrate with a civilian operation and still protect our information from release. This is not only good deployment training, but good from [operations security] and [information security] training."

Despite the challenges set before the Airmen, the results from the exercise were encouraging and the special operations staff was pleased with the results of McConnell's participation, Colonel Freeland said.