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Air Force, Army, DLA conducts triannual JTF-PO training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
AMEDEE ARMY AIRFIELD, Calif. --  With simulated terror cells operating in the area, Airmen and Soldiers dawn their interceptor body armor and place their M16 rifles at the low-ready position as they exit the bus at the fictitious country Sangala, in preparation for Exercise Turbo Distribution 16-02.

What is now a runway surrounded by dirt, shrubs and tumbleweeds, will turn into a fully operational port in less than 24 hours.

Approximately 125 Airmen assigned to the 821st Contingency Response Group, 621st Contingency Response Wing along with approximately 50 Soldiers assigned to the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and approximately 10 officials from the Defense Logistics Agency will test their Joint Task Force Port-Opening capabilities during Turbo Distribution.

The over-arching concept behind the mobility based exercise relates to U.S. Transportation Command's Joint Task Force-Port Opening mission set; a robust combination of the Air Force's swift airbase opening capability and the Army's critical over-land cargo movement, tracking and distribution capability.

Turbo Distribution is used to evaluate mobility operations and expeditionary combat support. Unlike traditional, simulation based exercises, TD provides a dynamic venue with scenarios designed to challenge participants executing complex operations in a deployed environment.

"This training is unique," said Lt. Col. Blaine Baker, 921st Contingency Response Squadron director of operations and the TD 16-02 Joint Operations Command director. "We want to take advantage of this opportunity and make sure our Airmen are adequately trained and equipped to conduct JTF-PO operations and make sure USTRANSCOM has readily available forces to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment's notice."

Throughout the year, the Air Force, Army and DLA participate in three JTF-PO exercises structured for them to maintain proficiency and prepare them for alert requirements, but none more important than Turbo Distribution. 

"Exercise Turbo Distribution is critical," said Staff Sgt. Chavis Wright, 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron small package initial communications element supervisor. "This is by far the most realistic training we go though and it gives us the opportunity to integrate and coordinate points of difficulties with our counterparts making it easier to complete the mission when we are called upon."
Upon their initial arrival March 15 to their "redeployment" on March 18 everyone taking part in the exercise is expected to learn something TD officials said.

"Our goal for the exercise is to have every single Airman, Soldier and DLA official confident enough to perform their job and take part in a real-world JTF-PO anywhere across the globe at any time," Baker said."

The JTF-PO specializes in rapidly establishing hubs for cargo distribution operations worldwide, to include remote or damaged locations, on short notice. Previous deployments include humanitarian assistance support missions to Haiti, Pakistan and Japan, and contingency deployments in support of military operations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America.