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818th CRG members attend Army Air Assault School

  • Published
  • By Senior Airmen Danielle Johnson
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NJ. --  Over the last few years, the Air Force has undergone a major transformation. Taking over convoy and other ground operation duties, adding more combat training to basic military training and intensifying the physical training requirements for all Airmen have transformed the Air Force into a leaner, meaner fighting force. 

In February, 818th Contingency Response Group leadership took another step forward in this transformation. Col. Richard Walberg, 818th CRG commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth D'Alfonso, 818th Global Mobility Readiness Squadron commander and Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, 818th CRG first sergeant, attended and completed the 101st Airborne Division Army Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Ky. 

"This training will go a long way in bridging the gap between Army commanders and the Air Force during the initial response to hostilities," said Sergeant Beason. "The CRG brings a lot to the table, and if we have the same qualifications and experience as our counterparts then the respect level will climb." 

Army Air Assault School is an intense, 10-and-a-half day course. It is divided into three phases; aircraft familiarization and marshalling, sling-load operations and rappelling. In phase one, students are taught aircraft familiarization - what each aircraft can do, marshalling techniques and how to set up a landing zone. In phase two, the sling-load operations phase, students are taught how to build and inspect sling-loads, preparation for sling-load operations, as well as the capabilities, characteristics and use of sling-load equipment. Finally, in phase three, students receive instruction on basic ground and aircraft rappelling procedures. 

"Phase three, rappelling, is really helpful to CRGs because once the Army comes in and takes an airfield, they press outward beyond the airfield boundaries," said Sergeant Beason. "With this training, we gain flexibility in helicopter operations which bridges the gap between fixed wing and ground transportation when it comes to forward movement of personnel and material. When airports are unsuitable and/or roads are impassable, helicopters will be our only recourse to sustain cargo movement." 

The requirement for CRG members to be air assault qualified was raised last year by the Brigade Combat Team commanders from the 82nd Airborne Division that the 818th exercised with during JFEX 06-4 and 06-06. Colonel Walberg was the deployed CRG commander for both exercises. 

"At the time, both the 2nd BCT commander and the 4th BCT commander told me that to be relevant and to fully integrate in the joint fight I needed to understand their tactics, training and procedures," said Colonel Walberg. "In discussions with my wing commander, Col. Steve Bernard (621st CRW commander), I asked for the go ahead to try and make it through the course. He told me to go ahead, and we started to train for this course. This course is normally done by soldiers in their late teens and early 20's; the day we graduated was 10 days short of my 48th birthday. It was the most demanding training I have done in 25 years." 

If designated by the Joint Forces commander as the senior airfield authority, the CRG commander can use the information learned at air assault school on how the U.S. Army uses Aerial Port of Departures to rapidly reinforce or supply forward commanders engaged in hostilities to better apportion APOD real-estate to more efficiently use the APOD for both the seizure mission and the incoming AEG mission. The training is also directly applicable to the new U.S. Transportation Command, Joint Task Force Port Opening mission. 

The Army uses APODS somewhat differently than the Air Force. The primary Army mission is to support the tactical level ground commander by lifting equipment, soldiers, medical evacuations and casualty evacuations. The CRGs are the bridge between the Army seizure force and the JFC's combat power destined for that APOD. By becoming air assault qualified, the CRGs have more capabilities when setting up the APOD with a forward look towards the operational level of war and the global strike and global mobility missions commensurate with the Air Force Air Expeditionary Wing or Air Expeditionary Groups. 

In addition to all the other training, the school includes physical training everyday; obstacle courses; four, eight and 12-mile ruck marches; group runs; and guerilla drills.
"We double-timed it everywhere," said Sergeant Beason. "And we had to scream 'air assault' every time our left foot hit the ground. We were training with the 101st Airborne, so everything they did was 101; 101 four-count flutter kicks, 101 four-count side-straddle hops, etc." 

Fortunately, the 818th CRG went to the training well prepared. Capt. Alexander Price, 818th CRG Force Protection Flight commander, first went through Army Air Assault School in September 2006 to see what it was like and if it was something the CRG's needed in their "tool kit." He put together a demanding training schedule that the 818th CRG began three months before deploying to Fort Campbell Feb. 18. Among other things, the training consisted of multiple 30-45 pound ruck marches between four and 12 miles, rope climbing, weight lifting, running and negotiating the obstacle course at Fort Dix. 

The extra training paid off for Colonel Walberg, Colonel D'Alfonso and Sergeant Beason. All graduated and earned their Air Assault Badge. What made the event even more significant is the fact that Colonel Walberg is the first Air Force O-6, and one of the oldest individuals to go through the course, and Sergeant Beason is the first Air Force first sergeant to complete the course. 

The training also helped build the relationship between the Army and the Air Force.
"We automatically stuck out because we were in BDUs, and the Army is in their ACUs, and then they saw our rank," said Sergeant Beason. "Once we started talking to them, we realized that they are just like us, they are gung-ho about their job just like we are - and the Army is fired up about CRGs." 

Bridges were built with the 101st Airborne Division, according to Sergeant Beason. All the air assault school instructors were coined by Colonel Walberg and Sergeant Beason. 

"The instructors said that we made the class," explained Sergeant Beason. "We finished in the top 20 of the 125-soldier class. We were motivated and really tried to build a team." 

Now that the 818th leadership is air assault qualified, the goal is to get about 20 percent of the unit trained; a true mix of security forces, intel, vehicle maintenance, civil engineers, command and control, maintainers and aerial porters. Three more 818th CRG personnel left to attend the school this week. 

"I wouldn't expect someone to go though this, if I haven't done so myself," said Sergeant Beason. 

"Senior 818th CRG leadership went through the course, because we lead Airmen in hostilities from the front," said Colonel Walberg.