Exercise challenges McConnell Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  More than 100 McConnell Airmen recently participated in an exercise that tested the installation's ability to generate and sustain operations from a forward operating location.

The eight-day exercise, which began Nov. 3 and ended Nov. 10, was conducted as part of Global Thunder/Vigilant Shield 11.

"This was a unique exercise for McConnell because it extended across three combatant commands including U.S. Transportation Command, United States Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command," said 2nd Lt. Alex Hill, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron installation deployment officer.

This multi-command involvement included a visit from Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, U.S. Strategic Command commander, who personally observed McConnell's ability to generate for a short-notice nuclear support mission.

To enhance the realism and effectiveness of the scenario, multiple mission sets were utilized in one exercise.

"[McConnell] has never had an exercise where we've done a generation phase prior to a field training phase," said Lieutenant Hill. "It took a lot of training and coordination from all the units to make that happen."

McConnell Airmen from security forces, maintenance, aircrew, logistics, intel, contracting, finance, force support and command post were tasked with a short-notice deployment to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.

In addition to the Airmen, the deployment required five of McConnell's 63 KC-135 Stratotankers and more than 14 short-tons of cargo to support operations at the deployed location.

The exercise allowed Airmen to display their ability to respond to a real-world scenario and prepared them for the challenges that might occur along the way.

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, Col. Jamie Crowhurst, said "Many of us worked long hours throughout the exercise, and we demonstrated our ability to meet all combatant commander requirements. I'm most proud of the teamwork and dedication that all of Team McConnell displayed."

"Ready Airman operating from a Ready Base executed Ready Mobility during this exercise. The skill and expertise of McConnell warriors continue to set the bar as they prepare for future challenges."