JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST – Members assigned to the 87th Air Base Wing, 305th Air Mobility Wing and the 621st Contingency Response Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Participated in Jersey Dawn 25, an exercise held from June 28 to July 2, 2025.
The exercise tested the installation’s ability to operate in a degraded environment and evaluated the mass generation of personnel and equipment.
An Inspector General team assessed the wings’ response to various simulated attacks while maintaining operations. Scenarios included the destruction of buildings, communication disruptions, and water well contamination. These situations challenged service members’ problem-solving skills and helped build their confidence when operating under pressure.
“The exercise demonstrated the importance of decentralized command, empowering team members to make decisions and execute the mission based on the commander's intent,” said U.S Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steven Millerd, 87th ABW Civil Engineer Group senior enlisted leader.
Personnel and cargo deployment functions were also rehearsed. Members received briefings covering legal topics and resources available to them and their families. Cargo was weighed, measured, and loaded into aircraft. Rehearsing these things through physical actions instead of simulating them showed leadership how well processes worked.
Jersey Dawn 25 highlighted both the strengths and areas needing improvement across JB MDL’s operations.
“During Jersey Dawn 25, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst exercised our readiness and preparation in support of the 2025 Department Level Exercise,” said Col. Michael Stefanovic, JB MDL Commander and 87th Air Base Wing Commander. “We ensured Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst was ready to strengthen our military and hone our ability to respond with unprecedented speed and scale to any contingency. In partnership with the 305th Air Mobility Wing and the 621st Contingency Response Wing, we successfully executed a five-day exercise to ensure our service members are ready, capable, and resilient against known or emerging threats.”
Regular exercises ensure service members are empowered to use their resources, work as a team, and stay ready to complete the mission.
These exercises strengthen our security commitments and enable us to rapidly respond to any contingency or challenge in the world,” said Stefanovic. “I’m incredibly proud of our JB MDL warfighters and mission partners for being able to execute their mission anywhere in the world, as evidenced by our success throughout the exercise.”