U.S., U.K. forces partner for expeditionary training

by Capt. Sybil Taunton
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs

8/7/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.  -- Reflecting real-world contingency operating environments, the U.S. Air Force and Army partnered with the U.K. Royal Air Force for a Joint Task Force Port Opening during Exercise EAGLE FLAG held here, July 15-19.

With a partnership that began between the USAF Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron and the RAF in 2011, involving several visits to observe training and share lessons learned, the RAF Marham-Coningsby Expeditionary Air Wing sent personnel to participate in the first Exercise EF to include an international coalition.

"The partnership we have forged with the Expeditionary Center is vital to our continued success on coalition operations," said Wing Cdr. Rob Connor, Chief of Staff Operations for the RAF Marham-Coningsby EAW. "Our integration with the EC has not only enhanced our mutual understanding of capabilities and doctrine, but has ultimately fostered efficiency of force when tasked to operate in difficult and challenging environments on contingency operations."

The five-day exercise consisted of JTF-PO operations conducted by the 818th Contingency Response Group, from JB MDL, and the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, in which cargo and personnel were flown in to set up an air field in an austere location.

In the exercise scenario the Joint Task Force was sent to the fictional country of Dakaar under the direction of U.S. Transportation Command, responsible for the surface movement of all cargo and equipment within the JTF-PO mission set. After just three days, the airfield was established and control was handed off to the RAF to continue operations.

Flight Lt. Jon Smith, a logistics officer for the RAF Marhman-Coningsby EAW, discussed the purpose of their visit and the importance of the training partnership.

"This has been great, and it has been two fold," said Smith. "There have been formal training elements going on, but the core reason we are here is to look at your tactics, techniques and procedures; look at your organization; look at how you configure yourselves to do expeditionary operations, so that we can take those lessons from the way you operate and apply them to our approach, our methods and our TTPs."

Smith continued by discussing specific takeaways that he found important throughout the exercise.

"Understanding the capabilities you bring that we wouldn't necessarily expect to have is very important. For example, we wouldn't typically have a contracting officer, but it is really valuable to know that you would have that asset available," said Smith. "You have different people for different functions and this training is invaluable. Learning who we need to talk to in an American organization in order to get the information we need can save us so much time in the future."

To further coalition collaboration, the RAF has expressed interest in including Expeditionary Center Airmen in their own upcoming exercises as well, explained Lt. Col. Brandon Casey, 421st CTS commander.

"It has been a great opportunity working alongside the RAF," Casey said. "The 421st is committed to providing Exercise EAGLE FLAG participants with challenging and realistic expeditionary skills training through dynamic scenarios tailored to their operational requirements. Working with our coalition partners is one of the best ways to develop these allied tailored scenarios and build upon our valuable partnership."