LIMESTONE, Maine — On the third day of Operation Northern Phoenix, alone on an empty 12,000-foot airstrip, 2nd. Lt. Christopher Parent could only hear the rustling of trees in the distance. As the sun shone hot on the tarmac, the landing zone officer’s radio began to crackle.
“Rhode three seven, this is Loring Tower, how do you hear?” said Tech. Sgt. Justin Burrows, an air traffic controller with the 260th Combat Airfield Operations Squadron.
“Loring tower, Rhode three seven, loud and clear,” responded a C-130 assigned to the 143rd Airlift Squadron with the Rhode Island Air National Guard that was circling above.
As Parent, the operations officer for the 260th CAOS with the New Hampshire National Guard, listened to words that had not been heard from the tower in more than 30 years, he knew the squadron had successfully opened, established, and maintained airfield operations in a location with no infrastructure other than an airstrip.
From June 7-12, the five-day operation provided a valuable opportunity for service members to practice the elements of Agile Combat Employment and get certified as landing zone officers. The Airmen honed their skills in expeditionary air traffic control, fixed-wing operations, multi-unit collaboration and base build-up.
“This is an exercise for them to test their capabilities and execute a full setup as if they would do downrange,” said Master Sgt. Cody Lewis, first sergeant assigned to the 260th CAOS. “It’s kind of their opportunity to put all of their tools into play, practice their skills and develop their teamwork.”
As the Airmen from Pease stepped off the C-130 on the Loring landing strip, the squadron hit the ground running.
While the maintenance crew built the tents and set up the cooking station, the operations team marked landing zones and joined the 265th Combat Communications Squadron from the Maine Air National Guard to construct the high-frequency radio infrastructure.
During the mission, Airmen from New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania practiced land-to-air communications and touch-and-go exercises in an environment that closely mirrored the conditions they could encounter during real-world contingency operations.
“Being able to build stuff and actually put our equipment into operation has been great,” said Airman 1st Class Cole Larochelle, a radio frequency specialist with the 265th CCB. “It’s really good training because we get to practice communications in real life in a place we normally wouldn’t have access to.”
Northern Phoenix provided a valuable opportunity for the Multi-Capable Airmen to build on the previous year’s exercise. Throughout the week, Airmen not only coordinated multiple military units, but also managed operations with local departments.
“For operations to happen, you need runway and ARFF [Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting]. Those are the two crucial things,” said Parent. "And getting community support really allows that to happen.”
Over the years, the Loring Development Authority has worked to redevelop the former Loring Air Force Base property.
Jonathan Judkins, the LDA president and CEO, has strived to reposition it as a center for defense partnerships, aerospace, logistics and innovation while honoring its military legacy.
For Judkins, Loring’s expansive areas and airfield capabilities make it a valuable training asset for military partners. He has seen how exercises like Northern Phoenix bring meaningful activity back to an installation that was originally built for national defense.
“These relationships matter,” said Judkins. “Strong military partnerships are built on trust and responsiveness, and Lt. Parent and the New Hampshire team have demonstrated a genuine commitment to making this a successful operation for everyone involved.”
Airmen from the 157th Air Refueling Wing worked alongside the 101st Air Refueling Wing, Presque Isle, Limestone, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Van Buren fire departments, as well as the North Lakes Fire and Rescue and Maine Forest Service, to provide Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting support. The exercise allowed military firefighters to work alongside local departments and partner organizations, building relationships and improving interoperability.
“It’s nice to be able to bring our assets and our people together to support the same mission,” said Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Melanson, fire chief for the 101st Air Refueling Wing. “That’s basically what we would end up doing if we were deployed anywhere in the world. You’re going to have to work with whoever is at your location and figure out how to get the mission done.”
The success of the mission was unquestionable for Parent.
“We were able to do landing zone operations, move on to use our MSN-7, then take that and use it over at the old Loring Tower and work out of there,” said Parent. “We were able to do that open and establish phase, and then take it to the next level, which is the sustain phase.”
As the operations officer ended the exercise and spoke with the squadron, he knew that if the Air Force called, the 260th CAOS could get the job done.
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