305th, 514th AMW enhances refueling capabilities

Published April 14, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Aircrews and maintainers from two mission wings stationed here gained a boost to their refueling skills and further enhanced the Air Force's global-reach efforts during a week-long exercise at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., concluding March 29.

The exercise, dubbed NEPTUNE FALCON, culminated with a final KC-10A formation landing at McGuire Air Field. Personnel from the 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings joined servicemembers from an array of other wings and specialties to practice and improve large-formation air-to-air refueling operations and overall global-reach capabilities throughout the exercise.

The KC-10 Extender is Air Mobility Command's advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for U.S. armed forces. Although the KC-10s' primary mission is aerial refueling, it can also provide critical cargo capability. This multi-faceted aircraft conducts air-to-air refueling while simultaneously carrying personnel and equipment to deployment locations. The KC-10 has six fuel tanks that allow the aircraft to carry more than 350,000 pounds of fuel - almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Air Force's other tanker platform.

The NEPTUNE FALCON exercise took the KC-10's extensive refueling capacity and put it through a rigorous test. Typical receiver groups include up to six aircraft in a formation. By increasing the number of tankers, unique receiver aircraft capabilities were also multiplied.

"NEPTUNE FALCON adeptly blended (combat air forces), (mobility air forces) and (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) assets into a cohesive warfighting capability," said Col. Paul Murphy, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander.

The exercise brought a synergy and increase in capability further ensuring the U.S. can project large-scale formations rapidly over long distances while also enabling and bolstering coalition efforts.

"I felt the exercise exposed crew members to deployment techniques rarely used," said Lt. Col. Dave Mott, 2nd Air Refueling Squadron commander. "This exercise could occur every six months to allow more crew members to gain the same experience we did."

The exercise comprised nine KC-10s executing an atypical refueling formation, thus increasing the 305th AMW and 514th AMW's experience and capabilities.

"Our crew, our units and skill sets developed through this exercise will be great assets to the tanker community and those who will require our talents," said Lt. Col. Dean Owens, 514th Operations Support Squadron chief of tactics.

During the exercise, the 305th contingent planned and executed 28 sorties with 100-percent maintenance reliability under the leadership of Mott, and Staff Sgt. Adam Crepeau, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron lead maintainer.

"From the top down, everyone was watching how we could execute and we did it perfectly," said Murphy. "My group commanders (Col. John Roscoe, 305th Operations Group commander, and Col. Charles Hill, 305th Maintenance Group commander) and I could not be prouder of how well our 'Can Do' KC-10 team performed. This exercise validated our warfighting doctrine and employment."

Given the current operating tempo of the KC-10 force, to include current operations in Libya and in Southwest Asia, the great success of the exercise stands testament to the flexibility and ingenuity of today's Airmen.

AMC Commander General Ray Johns, specifically praised mobility Airmen for their outstanding performance, "You all have stepped p in this time of need. I could not be more impressed, and I'm so very proud of each and every one of you."

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