RENO, Nev. (March 16, 2026) – Aircrews from multiple Air National Guard units and one Air Force Reserve unit completed training alongside the U.S. Forest Service’s National Aerial Supervision Training Academy (NASTA) at Libby Army Airfield, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, from Feb. 11–21.
The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) units conducted hundreds of simulated retardant drops and delivered nearly two million pounds of retardant while strengthening interagency readiness ahead of the upcoming wildfire season.
The training brought together Airmen from the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard; the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve Command; the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard; and the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard. In total, 155 personnel participated in advanced and standard qualification events across multiple phases of the exercise.
Operational results underscore the scale of the training effort. Aircrews executed 375 drops during 101.5 employment hours, delivering 196,683 gallons of retardant — equivalent to approximately 1,764,246 pounds of fire suppression material. The combined effort included 69 employment sorties flown by C-130 aircraft across the participating units.
According to MAFFS leadership, the advanced training scenarios are designed to challenge experienced crews with complex mission conditions that mirror real-world wildfire operations. These exercises help aircrews refine decision-making skills and strengthen mission readiness before they are called to support active wildfire incidents.
“The advanced week exposes crews to more difficult scenarios that grow their capabilities,” said Col. Jason Little, MAFFS Air Expeditionary Group commander. “It prepares them for the complexities of aerial firefighting and ensures they can respond effectively when needed.”
The training was integrated with the U.S. Forest Service’s NASTA program, which trains lead plane pilots who guide airtankers during wildfire suppression missions. By conducting MAFFS training alongside the academy, military crews gain experience working with the same interagency partners they will coordinate with during real-world fire responses.
As wildfire activity increasingly extends beyond traditional seasonal patterns, collaboration between military and civilian firefighting agencies has become even more important. Integrating MAFFS training with existing Forest Service programs helps distribute demand for critical resources such as lead planes, tanker bases and support personnel.
MAFFS operations function under the authority of U.S. Northern Command and coordinate closely with the U.S. Forest Service. The program provides a surge aerial firefighting capability when civilian airtanker resources are fully committed, allowing military C-130 aircraft to deliver fire retardant in support of firefighters on the ground.
“This mission is directly connected to the communities we serve,” said Little. “When crews drop retardant and see the immediate impact, they know they are helping protect homes and lives.”
Future training events will continue blending advanced and standard qualification activities to ensure MAFFS aircrews remain prepared to support wildfire response operations across the United States.