Joint, coalition forces discuss sharpening interoperability skills at JRTC

Published Sept. 1, 2009
By Bekah Clark
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

FORT POLK, La. -- During the Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09, joint and coalition force partners meshed together to complete a simulated wartime mission. For many of the participants, it was a chance to learn some new things.

"It's good to know how easy it is to work with your coalition teammates," said Canadian air force Lt. Luc Comeau, a C-130 navigator from the 436th Transport Squadron in Trenton, Ontario.

The exercise, held Aug. 18 to 25 at Fort Polk, La. and Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., brought together Airmen from Air Mobility Command and across the Air Force, U.S. Army Soldiers, and forces from the Canadian and Belgian air forces. It also provided all participating servicemembers the opportunity to practice joint and coalition interoperability with medical staff, aircrew, ground forces and mission planners.

"Working side-by-side with our coalition partners in the mission planning center allowed all of us to gain a better understanding of how our partner nations operate in a deployed environment," said Capt. Chris Thackaberry, a C-17 pilot with the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

"We're always somewhere with coalition forces, such as somewhere like Afghanistan, so it's very beneficial to learn how we work together," said Capt. Bert Erens, a C-130 pilot with the 15th Air Transport Wing in Belgium.

Aircrews from Hickam AFB; Belgium and Canada flew daytime and nighttime airlift, airdrop, and aeromedical missions out of Little Rock AFB for "Green Flag Little Rock" -- the base's term for their part in JRTC Exercise 09-09. The crews flew in support of Air Force aeromedical evacuation and Army ground operations.

"Creating a flying schedule to meet the mission needs of the aeromedical evacuation Airmen and Army troops on the ground with the limited number of people and resources made us rely on our coalition partners," said Captain Thackaberry. "Our Canadian and Belgian counterparts were essential in helping us get the job done in the mission planning center."

AE personnel from Pope AFB, N.C., MacDill AFB, Fla., March Air Reserve Base, Calif., and Westover ARB, Mass., performed simulated AE missions which included on-ground and in-flight AE operations such as patient transport and evacuation, patient monitoring and assessment, as well as training Soldiers to request AE support.

Over the course of the seven-day exercise, AE personnel processed and transported 109 patients, which is more than they would generally handle in that time period in theater, said Senior Master Sgt. Jon Sorak, the senior AE trainer-mentor at JRTC from Air Mobility Command's Operations Directorate at Scott AFB, Ill.

The 1st of the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, N.Y., the Army unit participating in the exercise, took part in simulated combat scenarios that gave Soldiers the opportunity to practice tactical maneuvers, fire fights, force protection, and securing and locking-down threat areas.

Air Mobility Liaison Officers, or AMLOs, played a significant role by serving as air mobility experts that provided expertise on the efficient use of air mobility assets assigned to support the Army ground maneuver units.

Aircrews and Soldiers were able to practice joint communications through the AMLOs to coordinate things like airdrops and airlift.

"Knowing you can depend on the other members of your coalition," said Lieutenant Comeau.

JRTC works with the 34th Combat Training Squadron from Little Rock AFB to host about 10 exercises per year in a simulated combat environment with emphasis on joint force integration for all branches of service in as realistic an environment as possible.

"JRTC is the only AMC exercise program accredited by Joint Forces Command as a joint training venue," said Lt. Col. Ashley Salter, 34th Combat Training Squadron commander.

34th CTS is responsible for integrating mobility aircraft operating out of Little Rock AFB with Air Force and Army ground units, he said. JRTC coordinates the Army's participation as well as works with Air Force units that will be working on the ground at Fort Polk, like the Air Mobility Command Operations directorate that was responsible for the AE portion of the exercise.

"We provide dynamic, scenario-driven training in an austere conditions where crews have to deal with threats and a rapidly changing environment," said Lt. Col. Derek Waterman, 34th CTS director of operations. "We don't want them to just be proficient -- we want them to be combat warriors."