Students attending the South Dakota Army National Guard's 13M High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Military Occupational Specialty Transition Course trained alongside loadmasters from the Minnesota Air National Guard's 133rd Airlift Wing during joint airlift operations at Joe Foss Field, July 30.
Planned by instructors assigned to the South Dakota Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 196th Regional Training Institute, the training introduced students to each phase of strategic airlift operations, including vehicle inspections, weight verification, aircraft marshaling, loading procedures and cargo inspections aboard a C-130 Hercules.
Working alongside Air National Guard loadmasters, students actively participated throughout the process, applying classroom instruction in an operational environment while learning the procedures used to prepare military equipment for airlift.
The exercise emphasized the communication, precision and coordination required between Army and Air National Guard personnel during aircraft loading operations. From positioning the HIMARS on portable scales to guiding it into the aircraft cargo compartment, each step required close coordination among ground guides, vehicle operators and aircrew members.
For many students, the event marked their first opportunity to load a HIMARS aboard a military aircraft.
The training strengthened interoperability between Army and Air National Guard organizations while familiarizing Soldiers with the procedures required to deploy the HIMARS by air. Integrating classroom instruction with hands-on experience prepares graduates to support joint operations and employ standard air mobility procedures in future operational assignments.