Minnesota Guard/Reserve team up for challenging contingency operations

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ethan Bryant
  • 96th Airlift Squadron
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  On the night of April 17th the 934th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve and the 133rd Airlift Wing of the Minnesota National Guard combined to execute a night training exercise involving six C-130 aircraft.  The two C130 units regularly take advantage of their co-location at Minneapolis International Airport to inter-fly and train together, enabling both organizations to take advantage of training opportunities normally available only in large-scale exercises.  The two units usually alternate who is in charge of planning the exercises, conducted multiple times a year, and each time the process provides invaluable experience to the aircrews and support agencies involved as they are all able to learn from each other.
 
This mission, planned by the 934th, was one of the most complex to date.  After taking off at dusk as a six-ship, the formation conducted a Radar Verified Aerial Delivery (RVAD) airdrop at a drop zone in central Wisconsin.  This capability allows C-130s to deliver equipment to ground forces while flying at low altitude and still enveloped in the clouds.  The formation then split into three two-ship formations to conduct low-level flying to more practice airdrops using night vision goggles.  The capabilities of the Hardwood Range Complex and Volk Airfield in Wisconsin also provided simulated threats for the aircrews to defeat that simulated many real-world scenarios.  After practicing assault takeoffs and landings using night vision, the formations then conducted an aerial rejoin back to a six-ship formation for an overhead approach and landing at Minneapolis.  Following the mission, wing intelligence personnel enhanced their capabilities by debriefing the aircrew on the threats that they saw just like they would after a real combat mission. 

"For these two units to come together and execute such a complex exercise takes more than precise planning.  It also takes trust that the other guy will be where they are supposed to be exactly when they are supposed to be there," said Major Matt Crawford of the 934th AW, mission commander for the night.  The importance of the trust developed in these exercises was evident on a recent deployment where the two units found themselves deployed near each other at overseas locations and conducting airdrops in support of ongoing operations.    It was common for an aircrew from one Minnesota-based unit to be briefed by aircrew of the other before conducting a challenging combat airdrop.  "It felt good to get such important information from guys that you knew and had flown with," observed Captain Josh Nelson, an instructor pilot with the 934th. 

As is often the case, the great success these units recently had in combat started with training in exercises like this one over the skies of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  "We always want to push ourselves and not stay satisfied with just practicing the basics," stated Captain Brandon Schrader, 934th Weapons Officer and Chief of Tactics.  We have such great resources for awesome training up here and we want to take advantage of it all."  The recent addition of Real-Time-In-Cockpit tactical displays (RTIC) to 934th aircraft will add yet another dimension to this training.  "These interfly missions enable us to provide our aircrews and critical support personnel with seasoning and operational training that will enhance our capabilities and ensure our wings continue to provide the best combat-ready teams to the Air Force mission," said Lt. Col. Chris Sedlacek, 96th Airlift Squadron Director of Operations.

Despite its relatively small size, the facility at Minneapolis Air Reserve Station is a host to a large number of joint Total Force agencies, including the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve.  In addition to being an ideal location for joint training, its shared use with the Minneapolis Airport allows it to operate at a fraction of the cost to the DOD as a stand-alone military base.