62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
10/20/2015 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 30 Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and 22 Air Force loadmasters from the 62nd Airlift Wing recently trained loading a 75,000 pounds Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar trailer onto a C-17 Globemaster III on McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Oct. 1.
The Mission Oriented Trainer training opportunity is a weekly occurrence in which JBLM Soldiers and Airmen train for real world short notice equipment transportation deployment.
This hands on training enables the Army to prepare for their real world mission of global response by simulating what would occur if they were tasked to deploy in a less than a 72-hour window. It also prepares Air Force aircrew, specifically loadmasters, on their roles in a time sensitive scenario.
"The training is conducted in phases," said Master Sgt. Douglas MacGregor, 62nd Operations Support Squadron joint airlift integrator and training coordinator. "Phase one consists of ground training where the unit learns how to tie down their own cargo on the aircraft and how to fill out the proper paperwork for transport. This enables [our] loadmasters to get the experience of loading an aircraft with larger equipment in a tight space."
The second phase is timed and serves as a test run. The units simulate being notified of a 72 hour short notice deployment. This means their assets need to be in the air within that time frame. A minute over and they don't make the time line.
The third and last phase is where the cargo and crew flies with the equipment.
Staff Sgt. Melissa Michels, C-17 loadmaster, said the training provided gave loadmasters a unique experience on the joint base concept as well as improved proficiency.
"In all, it took 17 minutes to load the CRAM onto the aircraft," she said. "It was pretty impressive."
The consensus between all units involved is the training is essential.
"The aircraft [here] plays a big role in the mission," said Sgt. 1st Class Oscar Llamas, 9th Support Detachment 1st Battlefield Coordination Detachment ground liaison. "The Army can't move their equipment without a ride."
The goal according to MacGregor was to provide practice for all units and so far the training has been widely successful according to both Llamas and MacGregor.
"It builds everyone up in preparation," MacGregor said. "It is a better training platform to focus everyone on the real world mission."
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