Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Allan Baros | U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Jean P. Alcedo, the first sergeant for Headquarters and...... read more read more
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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. – Airborne Command Posts from the 82nd Airborne Division and 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division participated in an Air Force exercise involving more than 50 aircraft May 31, 2013.
The Joint Forces Exercise-Vulnerability was initiated at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., and concluded at Nellis Air Force Base. This exercise tested the ability to conduct joint planning, mission command, and other unique capabilities of both Army and Air Force command and control systems while aboard aircraft en route to a tactical objective.
"This was our first opportunity to participate en masse with JFE-VUL," said Col. Charles Masaracchia, the 82nd Airborne Division operations officer.
Masaracchia added that the 82nd Airborne Division commander, Maj. Gen. John Nicholson, had the intent to embed with the weapons undergraduate students to conduct detailed joint planning and en route mission command utilizing reach back and forward systems to facilitate the situational awareness.
The brigade's tactical plan was briefed by Maj. Marc Melton and Capt. Sean O’Neal from 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s Operation Section to the WUGS.
This was an integral part of the Air Force's planning process and assisted in the approach of the drop zone, the order of movement, the overall understanding of the ground tactical plan, and the enemy threat that both the Army and Air Force faced.
The exercise was initiated when the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers conducted final manifest call, pre-jump operations, and boarded the aircraft at Pope Army Airfield, N.C.
One unique aspect of this operation was the in-flight rigging.
This entails rigging the parachute harness and having a Jump Master Personnel Inspection conducted by current and qualified jump masters.
It is commonly conducted for airborne operations that have a long flight prior to the operation.
"This exercise afforded us a prime opportunity to take advantage of an in-flight rig, a skill set normally practiced when we jump into the national or joint readiness training centers," said Master Sgt. Robert Edwards. "We are setting up this jump master team and the division for future success."
The Air Force also exercised a unique aspect of command and control by having multiple groups of fighter escorts at different legs of the flight and conduct in-flight refueling operations as they and the paratroopers traveled across the United States.
A shared capability that was exercised was the Fixed Installation Satellite Antenna installed on a C17 Globmaster III.
"JFE-VUL provided an opportunity to integrate both emerging and legacy technologies," said Lt. Col. Aaron Sampson, 82nd Airborne Division's communication officer. "The true capability was the FISA equipped aircraft coupled with the 75th Ranger Regiment's system providing increased bandwidth to the airborne formation,"
An After Action Review was conducted here, by the 82nd Airborne Division and various members of Air Force leadership that participated in the joint exercise.
"The plan we had was robust enough to survive first contact," said Lt. Col. Brian Wald, 57th Weapons Squadron Commander.
"The great thing about JFE-VUL is the joint planning conducted at Nellis Air Force Base which capitalized on the strength of every participant and how we were able to integrate those capabilities together," Wald added.
This exercised achieved the end state that Air Force and Army planners understand each others capabilities and limitations while creating enduring relationships that will facilitate future joint planning exercises.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2013 19:12 |
| Story ID: | 108127 |
| Location: | NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 848 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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