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Dover's 2nd C-17 supports ACC, Navy

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A Dover C-17 teamed up with Air Combat Command and Navy fighters in a joint Air Force - Navy training operation June 29 at Naval Air Station Key West, Fla.

The Globemaster III, which Dover received June 21, teamed up with 16 F-15 Eagles from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., F-5s from NAS Key West's VFC-111 Aggressor Squadron and F-18E Super Hornets and F/A-18 Hornets from NAS Lemoore, Calif.

Less than two weeks after its initial arrival here, Dover's second C-17 and its crew of Airmen from the 3rd Airlift Squadron are hard at work, supporting the Airmen and Sailors in their Dissimilar Air Combat Training exercise.

"Our plane is down there making shuttle runs between Eglin and Key West," said Capt. Billy Coyle, 3rd AS. "One load of cargo on our C-17 is the equivalent of them bringing 4 semi-truck shipments. We ran several loads of cargo in support of their exercise."

To move F-15 parts in the exercise, the joint team looked toward the Air Mobility Command for support. The Eagle Wing stepped up and sent one of their two prized new Globemaster IIIs down to get the airlift job done.

In turn, the Sailors and Airmen there could concentrate on their objectives of the joint Air Force and Naval aviators getting valuable experience on each other's systems and operations.

Meshing the services' training objectives illuminated one goal of the DACT exercise, said Capt. Joe Chennault, the deployment project officer, in an interview at Eglin AFB.

The exercise objectives proved successful for ACC.

"It's not an every day occurrence for us to work so closely with the Navy," Captain Chennault said. "Whether I'm talking real-time in a combat-theater mission or a training sortie, I now know what I need to say to make them understand and vice versa."

The objectives also proved successful for the Navy.

"It's good for all of us to see how the other service operates," said Navy Lt. Brad Garms, VFA-122 fleet replacement squadron instructor. "Over the last few years, the Navy and Air Force have begun to standardize the operating tactical environment."

Additionally, the exercise proved successful to Team Dover.

"We got a chance to operationally support the joint DACT exercise, and at the same time get valuable training for our loadmasters," said Captain Coyle.

Dover's newest C-17 got the first notch on her belt with the exercise and two new loadmasters were certified during the trip and that is a successful first mission, said Captain Coyle.

(Information for this story provided by Jenna McMullin, 33rd FW Public Affairs)