Dover reservists, McGuire active-duty Airmen team together for contingency response training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe Yanik
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GRIFFISS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Rome, N.Y. --  A team of reservists from the 512th Airlift Control Flight, Dover Air Force Base, Del., participated in the 2014 East Coast Combat Operations Exercise April 7-10, 2014, at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, N.Y.

The objective of their training mission was to set up command post operations in an austere location with minimal manning and equipment.

More specifically, four 512th ALCF members and about 40 active-duty Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., set-up communications capability from a mobile facility called a Hardside Expandable Light Air-Mobile Shelter.

During the exercise, the collaborative team performed several quick reaction checklist scenarios, which tested their ability to overcome logistical challenges related to airfield operations and technical challenges related to the HELAM's communications capability.

The Dover reservists included Capt. John Glass, the operations officer, Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Concepcion, the operations NCO, Tech. Sgt. Sean Ahearn, a radio frequency transmissions specialist, and Staff Sgt. Darryl Santry, a loadmaster.

These Liberty Wing reservists occasionally conduct deployment exercises with ALCFs from other wings, for example during Patriot Sands in February, but training alongside active-duty Airmen in setting up command and control operations in a deployment exercise was a unique opportunity.

"The reservists from the 512th AW provided necessary manpower augmentation for our training exercise," said 1st Lt. Jason Gallimore, Contingency Response Element's director of operations for the training mission. "We get to see how they do things, and they can see how we operate day-in and day-out."

There are five ALCFs in the Air Force Reserve Command. One is set up at Dover AFB, Del., and the others are located at Lackland AFB, Texas, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., March AFB, Calif., and Charleston AFB, S.C. Each plays a vital role in the Air Mobility Command's global command and control structure. They have participated in every major real-world deployment involving Air Force strategic airlift in the past decade.

"We're the first to the fight," said Concepcion. "What's special about ALCFs is our ability to be self-sufficient on an airfield. We drive forklifts, upload and unload cargo, coordinate the flow of and fueling for aircraft. We direct local responders on the airfield in the event of any medical emergencies."

He added the size of the ALCF element depends on the mission.

For ECCOEX, Concepcion positioned himself immediately off the runway in a truck, equipped with a laptop and a special frequency radio. He had to establish contact with AMC and AFRC upon their arrival at the airfield.

"Contacting AMC within 30 minutes is mandatory," said Concepcion. "This initial contact lets them know we've arrived safely at our destination."

He also communicated with inbound aircraft to obtain their estimated time of landing, the kind of cargo and the amount of passengers on board. With this information, he coordinated with aerial port personnel and with the loadmaster Santry, whom he called his eyes and ears on the runway.

In regular communication with Concepcion, Santry coordinated various sequence of events including wheel chocking, refueling and the loading and unloading of cargo.
If the aircraft wasn't scheduled to take off immediately, Concepcion secured a parking spot.

Ahearn ensured communications systems in the HELAMS were operational by calibrating computers and by setting up antennas and visual displays.
From beginning to end, Glass said he kept a close eye on both the cargo transportation and the set-up.

"My job is to oversee the airflow, ensuring smooth transportation of personnel and equipment to and from the airfield," Glass said.

This joint training exercise offered Glass and the other Dover reservists the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities to active-duty Airmen, who perform contingency response activities on a more regular basis.

"How well we perform during this exercise with the active-duty side validates our capability to integrate in a real-world setting," said Glass. "Our success here is important for total force integration."

Gallimore was optimistic about the joint training being beneficial for both the active-duty's ability to perform contingency response and for the 512th ALCF's mission of readiness.

"We hope we will be able to include them in more training in the future," said Gallimore.