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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Despite severe weather that disrupted some planned operations, Southern Strike 2020 has continued to perform training missions that flex the skills of participating units.
Southern Strike is a large-scale, conventional and special operations exercise hosted by the Mississippi National Guard at several locations throughout the state. During the joint international combat exercise, participating units train in counterinsurgency, close air support, non-combatant evacuation and maritime special operations. More than 2,000 service members from the active and reserve components from approximately 22 states build combat readiness and relationships while conducting missions designed to enhance their effectiveness.
The joint training has highlighted some of the differences in the way each service branch conducts their operations. Sgt. DeAngelo Mitchell of Company E, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment, said refueling techniques are the same for the services, but there are differences in the equipment used. He was among a contingent of Company E that set up a Forward Arming and Refueling Point at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center’s Hagler Army Air Field for helicopters conducting missions there.
“The Navy wants to see a visual sample of the fuel every time they fuel up,” Mitchell said. “Other than that, the refueling is basically the same.”
Another contingent set up a FARP at Gulfport’s Combat Readiness Training Center.
“This exercise has been helpful because not only do we have this fuel point situation set up, but we have one at Camp Shelby that we set up, too. At a moment’s notice they’ll let us know when to pick up our stuff and move to another location. So, we have to be quick and have a plan to execute it,” said Pfc. Diamond Singleton, Co E, 1-185th.
A veteran from previous Southern Strike exercises, Spc. Azia Hill, Co. E, 1-185th, said she looks forward to it every year.
“Southern Strike happens to be my favorite time of (Annual Training) because you get to interact with the different types of aircraft from Blackhawks, Chinooks, Apaches, and this year we’re even refueling some Navy aircraft. So, that’s a different experience that I wouldn’t get at a home station,” she said,
Since Jan. 30, participating units have conducted a variety of missions, including helicopter assaults, close air support, helicopter hoist operations and refueling from both the ground and air.
The exercise continues until Feb. 12.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.08.2020 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 362286 |
| Location: | HATTIESBURG, MS, US |
| Hometown: | CAMP SHELBY, MS, US |
| Hometown: | GULFPORT, MS, US |
| Hometown: | GULFPORT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, MS, US |
| Hometown: | HATTIESBURG, MS, US |
| Web Views: | 206 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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