Joint training prepares contingency response personnel for worldwide deployment

Published April 7, 2011
By Maj. Laurie Arellano
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst hosted Exercise EAGLE FLAG 11-1 this week as a Joint Task Force Port-Opening exercise consisting of the 615th Contingency Response Wing from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. deployed here into the fictitious Kingdom of Nessor to open an aerial port and establish a forward node for distributing humanitarian aid.

EAGLE FLAG is an Air Force Chief of Staff directed recurring exercise that is executed by the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center. The exercise is mandated to test and rehearse the Expeditionary Combat Support capabilities the Air Force provides to Combatant Commanders during humanitarian operations and other contingencies. Lessons learned during EAGLE FLAG are used to develop tactics, techniques and procedures for Expeditionary Combat Support Airmen.

"This exercise focused on service integration and practicing the joint port opening skills that USTRANSCOM needs in order to support U.S. assistance during contingencies," said Lt. Col. David Lenderman, 421st Combat Training Squadron Commander. "When the U.S. is establishing a presence in a country, or if we're deploying into an area that has been devastated by a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis, the first thing we need is a place to get the people and the cargo into. That's where the JTF-PO comes in."

EAGLE FLAG 11-1 focused on establishing a Joint Task Force-Port Opening and conducting rapid deployment to a host-nation airport to open an aerial port and clear and hand off cargo to non-governmental organizations assisting in a refugee crisis. Colonel Lenderman said EAGLE FLAG cadre develop scenarios which reflect the mission and the most likely employment of Expeditionary Combat Support units based on global events and lessons learned.

"EAGLE FLAG is very realistic training," said Lenderman. "We ensure the units come in and operate just as they would if they were in a host country, because our job is to ensure the joint force is prepared to support U.S. interests anywhere in the world when the President orders."

Nearly 150 Army and Air Force personnel deployed to Lakehurst for EAGLE FLAG. They were tested on their ability to quickly establish operations, provide their own security, track cargo and personnel and move relief supplies from the plane to the customers quickly and efficiently.

This week's EAGLE FLAG tested members of the 615th CRW from Travis AFB. Upon arrival, they quickly established fully operational base within hours.

The 615th CRW is one of two of its kind assigned to Air Mobility Command the 621st CRW, located on JB MDL is the other. There are four active-duty contingency response groups within the two active-duty wings, and there are two Air National Guard CRGs based in the U.S. and overseas. The Air National Guard's 108th CRG also is based at JB MDL.

The Contingency Response mission is to employ rapidly deployable cross-functional teams to quickly open forward airbases. They are nicknamed Air Mobility Command's 9-1-1 force for their ability to be in country and have a port operational within days of a crisis.

"This type of training is invaluable," said Col. David Chandler, Joint Task Force-Port Opening commander. "Joint training like Eagle Flag is part of the continuous training that ensures we're always ready to quickly and effectively respond when our nation is called upon to support contingencies or humanitarian operations anywhere in the world."

Chandler said training ensures the contingency response members are well trained and equipped to meet any challenge.

"We take great pride in our ability to quickly pave the way for the delivery of life-saving supplies during a humanitarian crisis," said Chandler. "Because of this kind of training, we've excelled in previous real-world humanitarian operations such as Hurricane Katrina, Gustav and the recent operations in Haiti."

The 689th RPOE is one of three RPOEs, all located at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. All three units are part of a joint expeditionary logistics force to establish a port of debarkation and forward distribution node. The RPOEs provide in-transit visibility of cargo and conduct clearance and distribution operations. Sgt 1st Class Robert Skinner, 689th RPOE First Sergeant said Eagle Flag ensures joint success between the Contingency Response Group and the Rapid Port-Opening Element.

"This is great training for my Soldiers," said Skinner. "We get to work hand-in-hand with our Air Force partners to ready ourselves for when the call comes."

The next EAGLE FLAG is scheduled for August.