Nellis hosts large-scale cargo aircraft mobility exercise Published Nov. 16, 2009 Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Approximately 40 C-17 and C-130 aircraft will converge in formations over the Nevada Test and Training Range to conduct air and ground operations as part of the bi-annual, U.S. Air Force Weapons School Mobility Air Forces Exercise here Nov. 18. Cargo aircraft from Air Force bases around the U.S. and the world will depart from their home bases and join these formations over the ranges to participate in the training. The aircraft will then return to Nellis' flightline in an overhead approach at approximately 11:45 p.m. "MAFEX provides realistic training for CAF (combat air force), MAF(mobility air force), and U.S. Army personnel in order to prepare our Weapons School students and Army partners for both ongoing operations and future contingencies," said Lt. Col. Kevin Oliver, United States Air Force Weapons School deputy commandant. "The integrated lessons learned provided by this event drive Air Force and joint warfighting expertise to the highest level. The NTTR provides an outstanding venue for this training and gives our students the most robust challenges available, so that when they step out of our course and back into combat, they're ready for anything." The exercise is part of the school's curriculum and trains aircrews on how to work with fighter aircraft, sensor, intelligence and space platforms while conducting troop and cargo airdrops in combat zones. This year 400 paratroopers are scheduled to be airdropped over the NTTR to conduct urban ground operations, fighter aircraft will fly close air support and an air assault raid will be conducted. Air refueling and semi-prepared runway operations will also be executed. Air Force units participating in addition to the USAF Weapons School include, 62nd Airlift Wing of McChord AFB, Washington; 97th Air Mobility Wing of Altus AFB, Okla.; 437th Airlift Wing of Charleston AFB S.C.; 15th Airlift Wing of Hickam AFB, Hawaii; 3rd Wing of Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; 19th Airlift Group and the Arkansas National Guard of Little Rock, Ark.; Illinois National Guard; 317th Air Wing of Dyess AFB, Texas; Wyoming Air National Guard; Rhode Island Air National Guard; 346th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.; and the 436th Airlift Wing of Dover AFB, Del. Army units participating include the 82nd Airborne of Fort Bragg, N.C. Media interested in covering MAFEX are asked to contact 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs at 702-682-2750 or email teresa.sullivan@nellis.af.mil by Nov. 16. We will meet at the front gate at 1:30 on 18 Nov and proceed to conduct interviews for approximately one hour.
