POWIDZ AIR BASE, POLAND -- More than 50 Airmen from the 934th Airlift Wing in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, are currently deployed to Poland in support of exercise ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Operating out of Powidz Air Base, these Airmen comprise the Aviation Detachment (18-1) and are working alongside members of the Polish Air Force to accomplish a wide variety of mutual training objectives.
Powidz Air Base is located in west-central Poland and is the home of Polish Air Force C-130 fleet.
The 934 AW sent two C-130H3 Hercules aircraft to support the exercise, along with accompanying aircrews, maintainers, aerial porters, and ground support personnel. During this deployment to Poland, 934th aircrews have conducted formation flying and airdrop operations with both Polish Air Force C-130Es and active duty USAF C-130Js out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Working and flying with the Polish Air Force has allowed both nations to showcase their interoperability when it comes to conducting combat airlift and airdrop operations. Aircrews from both nations work together to plan, brief, and execute the missions. Airdrops have included low-velocity containerized delivery system (LVCDS), low-cost, low-altitude (LCLA) airdrops, and assorted training bundles. Aircrews have also been able to conduct assault landings to grass landing zones. While landing on unimproved surfaces is part of the C-130 mission, this was the first time that many of the 934th aircrews have had the opportunity to land on a grass strip.
In addition to airdrop training and formation flying, the 934th has flown with Polish Air Force MiG-29 and F-16 fighters. Such training provides valuable experience for mobility aircrews to fly against foreign aggressor aircraft. This deployment to Poland marks the second time that Air Force Reservists from the 934th have participated in the Aviation Detachment Rotations as part of exercise ATLANTIC RESOLVE.