Travis trains with multiple bases, services in ACOT

by Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
60th Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

3/28/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis Airmen, in coordination with Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fairchild Air Force Base, the 621st Contingency Response Group and Navy Carrier Wing 2, completed advanced combat operations training Monday and Tuesday from Travis AFB down the California coast to San Diego.

"Essentially ACOT is the 60th Air Mobility Wing's implementation of the 2013 Campaign Plan for Mobility Air Forces Aircrew Training," said Maj. Jason Roberts 60th Operations Support Squadron airborne mission commander. "This scenario-based training supports the full spectrum of operations in both permissive and contested battle space while delivering the most realistic and efficient learning experience possible. The ultimate goal is to give crews enhanced applied knowledge to meet the combatant commander's requirements."

The training included large formation aerial refuel missions, low-level ingress and egress maneuvers, intermediate and forward operating bases, air intercept scenarios from the Naval F/A-18 Super Hornets and applied aircraft defensive maneuvering. Travis employed all three of its air frames, the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender to support the joint training.

Fighter aircraft from the USS Reagan were designated to act as friendly force escorts, while also receiving AR from Travis KC-10s. At the height of the training scenario, the strike fighters were approached by two enemy F/A-18s with the intent to harm the escorted cargo aircraft.

The simulated threat environment provides great training for defensive posturing and aerial refueling, said Staff Sgt. Jeff Suddy, 9th Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 boom operator.

"The threats laid out in these training scenarios were strategic, involving surface-to-air missiles and the F/A-18s acting as adversary planes," Roberts said.

While the F/A-18s protected the cargo plane, the heavy aircraft used their own defensive measures, such as flare deployment and low-level maneuvers.

"It's exciting to get out here and play some tactical games with the C-5," said Staff Sgt. Jack Hullman, 22nd Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "It really brings to light the true war fighting capabilities of the aircraft."

On the ground, the 621st Contingency Response Group set up a forward operating base at Fort Irwin, Calif., and completed landing zone safety officer duties at Bicycle Lake Army Air Field.

By the end of the exercise, 26 aircraft had participated from six different bases and involved forces from the Army, Navy and Air Force, creating an in-depth exercise applicable to real-world situations.

"If we were to enter a real-world wartime scenario multiple bases would respond, meet up and take care of business," Roberts said. "Aircraft from different bases need to know how to communicate, execute and complete the mission in the joint-service environment in a wide spectrum of circumstances."

The dedication and the methodical approach Travis Airmen displayed when solving the training problems thrown at them resulted in an in-depth and successful mission completion, Roberts said.