Dyess completes ORE 18-01 Phase 2

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sergeant Alexander Guerrero
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 317th Airlift Wing departed here Feb. 2, 2018 to participate in Operational Readiness Exercise 18-01, a ten day exercise that took place at Pope Army Air Field, N.C.

The C-130Js from the 317th Airlift Wing from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas and the 19th Airlift squadron from Little Rock Air Force Base, AR. worked with the 82nd Airborne Division from Ft. Bragg, N.C. with their airlift missions with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems as well as troop and small cargo airdrops. The members the units were sent Pope to further add to the feel of a contested deployed location.

“There are several reasons we send them to Pope, “said Maj. Alicia Stumpf, 317th Airlift Wing inspector general. “It gets them in the mindset of being in a deployed location by getting them away from home station. Coming out here also allowed us to combine our exercise with the Large Package Week and Emergency Deployment Readiness exercises in order to more efficiently use our Airmen’s time and save money.’

“Working with the Army is pretty interesting,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas McGuire, 40th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. “They do a lot of things different than the Air Force, so it’s good to see how other branches perform their duties but can still come together to complete a mission.”

During the exercise, the C-130 crews worked day and night with the 82nd Airborne Division to make sure they were getting them on target in the air and on the ground.

“The big thing about this exercise is not just working with the Army but working in a simulated chemical environment,” McGuire said. “It allows us to see, not only that we prepare the aircraft, get our soldiers into the field and fly while wearing our chemical gear.”

Pilots of the C-130s also participated in the contested chemical environment training by donning their Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear. The use of the MOPP gear and training in a simulated chemical environment is part of Air Mobility Commands focus on Full Spectrum Readiness. FSR is the ability to quickly execute any type of mission at a moments notice, whether it be humanitarian aid, reconnaissance, an airstrike or any of the many other capabilities held by the Air Force.

“Wearing the MOPP gear is part of us preparing for FSR,” said Capt. Brian Vos, 40th Airlift Squadron C-130J pilot. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had to wear MOPP gear. It makes performing your duties a little more taxing but it’s good to knock the rust off and remember how you’re supposed to do things.”

By the end of the exercise, mission capabilities were assessed, training objectives were met, and the skills of our Airmen and soldiers had been shown.

“All of our participants had an amazing attitude,” Stumpf said. “There was a noticeable progression and you could tell by the end that they had increased their knowledge and proficiency. Overall, ORE 18-01 was a success at all levels.”