An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

'Operation Thunderstruck;' train to fly, fight and win

  • Published
  • By Trisha Gallaway
  • 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  One-by-one, 10 Charleston-based C-17 took off from Charleston AFB Dec. 16 in support of exercise "Operation Thunderstruck."

While Charleston AFB is no stranger to launching a large number of aircraft in a short period of time, this year's exercise is different than ones from year's past.

In the past, the large formation flight was used to practice the strategic brigade airdrop of approximately 3,000 paratroopers onto a single drop zone in a short period of time, said Col. Joseph Mancy, 437th Operations Group commander.

"Since we need to practice for the worst possible scenario where there will be a moderate threat, this year's formation consists of smaller elements of aircraft flying different routes to the drop zones," he said. "This is also the first year we've airdropped [members of the] 82nd Airborne from Fort Bragg in association with our December Large Formation Exercise."

In all, more than 300 active-duty, Reserve and Guard personnel participated in the exercise, including members of the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings; 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron; 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard; 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.; 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla.; and Soldiers from the 2-319th Airborne Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

"The large formation flight is being held to provide realistic training that can only be accomplished during a large exercise," said Capt. Ryan Spodar, a pilot with the 16th Airlift Squadron and exercise lead planner. "This training extends beyond the aircrews and helps multiple agencies on base train and learn how to accomplish a large launch such as ours."

During the exercise, aircrews will airdrop heavy equipment and personnel, as well as practice aeromedical evacuations and aerial refueling.

For the Army, this exercise will provide them with the opportunity to jump into an unfamiliar drop zone.

"[The North Field] drop zone is not one they have jumped into in quite some time," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Spencer Polwort, who is currently assigned to the 437th Operations Support Squadron. "They are typically used to jumping into [the] Sicily [drop zone] at Fort Bragg with 54 seconds of green light. [Here] they will have to get out in no more than 10 seconds onto a field they have never seen. This means the planners really have to look at the survey and talk about a drop zone they have most likely never stepped foot on."

This year's exercise also changed the way the 437th and 315th Maintenance Groups had to prepare.

"This year's exercise is different and unique in that we have changed our mass formation to smaller packages," said 1st Lt. Kipp Williams, a member of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the lead planner for maintenance. "This exercise is more complex than before and allows our aircrews, maintainers, paratroopers, Aeromedical Evacuation Quick Reaction Forces, aerial port, and other wing agencies to better prepare for a very potential real world scenario."

With so many moving parts is this year's exercise, Col. John Wood, 437th AW commander, wanted all Airmen involved in preparing for this year's launch to go back to the basics of their jobs in making today's launch a success.

"I want you to focus on the precision you do each and every day," said Colonel Wood.

"This [exercise] showcases all of our great capabilities and our great Airmen," said Col. Steven Chapman, 315th AW commander. "Together, we'll get better."