U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo planes taxi across the active runway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., after participating in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The U.S. Air Force Weapons School holds MAFEX twice a year to test the ability of C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircrews from Air Force bases around the world to join together in a formation at a specific time and location to insert ground forces and equipment anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
U.S. Air Force equipment from the 820th RED HORSE Squadron, descends for support during Mobility Air Force Exercise May 23, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. Members of the 820th RED HORSE Airborne Squadron are capable of parachuting into heavily damaged airfields and rapidly returning them to service for use by friendly forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
A U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kellen Buss, use anemometers to measure wind speed during a Mobility Air Force Exercise May 23, 2012, on the Nevada Test and Training Range. RED HORSE can rapidly deliver small specialized teams and equipment packages by airdrop or air insertion to conduct expedient airfield repairs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III prepares to land during a Mobility Air Forces Exercise Nov. 16, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The U.S. Air Force Weapons School holds MAFEX twice a year to test the ability of C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules aircrews from Air Force bases around the world to join together in a formation at a specific time and location to insert ground forces anywhere in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
U.S. Air Force Lt.Col. Matthew Lengal, 18th Air Support Operations Group Air Liasion Officer from Fort Bragg N.C., communicates with C-17 Globemaster III as they land during a Mobility Air Force Exercise May 23, 2012, on the Nevada Test and Training Range. Airman and Soldiers from more than five units took part of the ground support portion of MAFEX. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. drops equipment used for a rapid runway repair during a Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, at the Nevada Test and Training Range. After all the equipment was dropped, airborne engineers from the 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., cleared and repaired a dirt runway. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Mosier, 820th RED HORSE Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, gathers his equipment after jumping out of a C-130 Hercules during a Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nev. Mosier, along with other EOD Airmen, cleared improvised explosive devices out of the area to allow a safe repair of the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. William P.Coleman)
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A C-17 assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, OK, taxis on the Nellis flight line after participating in the U.S. Air Force Weapons School simulate a "forced entry" Mobility Air Forces Exercise over the Nevada Test and Training Range May 23, 2012. The exercise, involving 22 C-17 and 29 C-130 aircraft and 820th RED HORSE Squadron civil engineers, simulates a seizure of a landing site in hostile territory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
Two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs prepare to take off from a dirt runway during a Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The aircraft conducted simulated and actual low-altitude drops of airborne forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jason Couillard)
A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., taxis on the Nellis flight line after participating in the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Mobility Air Forces Exercise over the Nevada Test and Training Range May 23, 2012. The exercise, involving 22 C-17 and 29 C-130 Hercules aircraft, and 820th RED HORSE Squadron civil engineers, simulated seizure of a landing site in hostile territory. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Colby Fulton, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller from Hurlburt Air Force Base, Fla., looks over the range for C-130 Hercules planes during Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, on the Nevada Test and Training Range. Members of the squadron controlled the landing zone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
A U.S Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Dover Air Force Base, Del., lands during a Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The C-17 is 174 feet long and has a wingspan of about 170 feet, and is able to airlift cargo fairly close to a battle area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Tam)
A U.S. Air Force crew chief marshals a C-17 aircraft assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Okla., on the Nellis flight line after the crew participated in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. More than 20 C-17s assembled in aerial formations over the NTTR to conduct air and ground operations as part of the Air Force Weapons School Mobility Air Forces Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Colby Fulton, 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller from Hurlbert Air Force Base, Fla., watches an A-10 Warthog provide low air support during Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012, on the Nevada Test and Training Range. Combat controllers are in constant contact with pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes)
A U.S. Air Force crew chief marshals a C-130J Hercules aircraft assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., on the Nellis flight line after the crew participated in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. More than 25 C-130 aircraft assembled in aerial formations over the Nevada Test and Training Range to conduct air and ground operations as part of the biannual U.S. Air Force Weapons School Mobility Air Forces Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
U.S. Air Force Weapons School students and evaluators walk from a C-130 Hercules on the flightline at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., after participating in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise May 23, 2012 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The students attended graduate-level instructor courses that provide the world's most advanced training in air, space and cyber weapons and tactics employment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lawrence Crespo)
by SSgt. William P. Coleman
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
5/30/2012 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Weapons Instructor Course students simulated "kicking down the door" into a enemy country by air-dropping an entire brigade of troops to seize a runway, May 23.
The U.S. Air Force Weapons School conducted its Mobility Forces Exercise, or MAFEX, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and the Nevada Test and Training Range. The mass air mobility exercise, in which nearly 70 aircraft, primarily consisting of C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft, practiced a "joint forcible entry" operation.
"All three parts are important; " said Lt. Col. Brian Wald, 57th Weapons Squadron commander, from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehust, N. J. "It is joint because of sister services supporting each other, forcible because we are conducting parachute operations in anti-access environments and the entry piece is the ability to sustain the area."
In the scenario, U.S. forces had to enter a simulated defended enemy country, defeat defending air defense forces and put troops on the ground.
Coordinating and executing the exercise was significant challenge for students of the six-month, post-graduate-level Weapons Instructor Course. When the students graduate in June, they will have earned the title, "Weapons Officer," and the Weapons School Graduate patch. The patches signify they have the expertise to advise military leaders at any level on the use of Air Force and sister service's capabilities in concert.
The centerpiece of the exercise was the airborne drop of a brigade-sized unit - placed on target where the Army wanted it to land.
"The unique thing about MAFEX is the amount of airlift we have, which stands at 21 C-17s and 29 C-130s, an absolutely sufficient capacity to drop that whole brigade," said Wald.
The students mastered their skills on the Nevada Test and Training Range, a 2.9 million acre range that maintains the densest threat simulator environment in the world. The NTTR provides year-round training to US and allied forces in a variety of exercises.
The anti-access environment in this MAFEX was created by simulated enemy forces portrayed by members of the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, which had to be neutralized before any of the drop operations could begin. To do this, an array of Air Force fighter jets and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flew into the area to provide airstrikes and patrol the drop zone.
Also performing air drops during the exercise were the 820the RED HORSE Squadron from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The airborne section of the 820th has the unique capability of dropping equipment and personnel from C-17s and C-130s and then performing a rapid runway repair.
If the runway is damaged during the "joint forcible entry," the RED HORSE Squadron must drop construction equipment and airborne engineers first so the aircraft are able to land as soon as possible.
"This puts a lot of assets on the ground very quickly to recover strategic airfields," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Tully, 820th RED HORSE Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of the airborne fire fighter team. "In order to land aircraft, you've got to have the airfield repaired. That's our job."
All service branches and experts from different career fields rely on each other to get the job done safely and efficiently.
"It takes all the pieces to give you the ability to dominate the battlespace in a way to make this happen," said Wald. "It can't happen if it's not integrated. It absolutely can't happen if it's not joint. So, collectively everyone has to come together to make this work."
