Photo By Senior Airman Darion Boyd | A U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, assigned to the 119th Fighter Squadron of the New...... read more read more
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The 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard participated in exercise Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) 2025, a first-of-its-kind Department Level Exercise (DLE) at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, this July and August. The DLE was designed to demonstrate the armed forces’ ability to rapidly deploy personnel, equipment and aircraft to the Indo-Pacific theater of operations.
The DLE series encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, along with allies and partners, employing more than 400 Joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations across 3,000 miles.
“REFORPAC will help solidify Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts and execution among the men and women of the 177th Fighter Wing,” said Lt. Col. Eric Emerson, 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander. “Lessons learned from this exercise will have a direct effect on how we train, fight and win our nation’s future conflicts.”
ACE concepts include the ability to rapidly deploy forces, altering enemy understanding of friendly intentions, capabilities, and posture, to gain advantages.
“Every lesson learned here, every process refined, directly contributes to making our Wing more capable and agile,” said Chief Master Sgt. Grant Holway, 177th FW Quality Assurance Senior Enlisted Leader.
Desired outcomes for units participating in REFORPAC include enhanced interoperability and readiness across the Pacific theater.
“This exercise tests our ability to generate airpower with limited support and resources as we repositioned multiple times around Japan,” said Emerson. “We relied on Airmen to step outside of their comfort zones, use their judgment backed up by their training, while solving complex problems.”
REFORPAC offers Airmen an opportunity to interface with service members of various U.S. military branches as well as service members from other allied countries.
“In addition to our State Partnership Program mission, this has been another successful venture in creating relationships with other nations and allies,” said Holway. “Overall, I have met nothing but friendly people overcoming language and logistical barriers to help each other.”
Maintaining strong relationships with allies ultimately enhances combined capabilities for all parties. During these engagements, the 177th FW members had the opportunity to teach as well as learn different tactics, techniques and procedures.
“Everything from refueling aircraft, towing aircraft, providing equipment, and training in emergency procedures, pilot extraction and hydrazine response, has been bilateral adding to mission success,” said Holway.
This iteration of REFORPAC is the largest crisis response exercise in Pacific Air Forces history.
“It is an honor to be part of such a monumental exercise,” said Emerson. “The lessons learned from this exercise will set the foundation of how we fight; projecting power and security throughout the 21st century. We had a part in that, and that’s pretty cool! I’m incredibly proud of what the Jersey Devils accomplished during REFORPAC.”
While the scale of the exercise was historic, it was the commitment and resilience of individual Airmen that drove the mission forward.
“From junior Airmen to senior non-commissioned officers, everyone has stepped up without hesitation, adapting to constant change, long hours, and new environments with professionalism and grit,” said Holway. “Exercises like this test not just our equipment and plans, but our people. It’s about shaping how we fight in the future, and that starts with the groundwork we’re laying right now.”
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2025 13:00 |
| Story ID: | 546857 |
| Location: | EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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