CRW hones skills during Soaring Angel

by Master Sgt. Stan Parker
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

10/17/2012 - FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- When the call comes for support, the men and women of the 621st Contingency Response Wing continue to respond effectively to crises in some of the most remote and austere areas of the globe.

But what if that call is a request to open up a forward-operating base in the Middle East to assist follow-on forces responding to an increase in insurgents? This was precisely the scenario that lead to 621st CRW Airmen traveling more than 200 miles south of their home station at Travis during exercise Soaring Angel. CRW Airmen partnered with the Moffett Federal Airfield-based 129th Rescue Wing, from Oct. 9 to 17, at the U.S. Army Combat Support Training Center at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.

More than 50 members of the 621st CRW used the exercise to get crucial, hands-on training in initial command and control, ramp coordination, aerial port and airfield security at the installation's Schoonover landing zone.

"The main goal of this exercise was to integrate with our partners to get significant training close to home at a reduced cost" said Master Sgt. Paul Spear, 573rd Global Support Squadron. "The bonus was having the opportunity to work with the 129th RQW, offering services they need to complete their mission."

Exercises such as Soaring Angel are extremely important because it takes us away from the convenience of our home station to work in an austere environment, said Lt. Col. Andrew Ferguson, 129th RQW plans officer.

"It's a very intense period of time, but great practice for our upcoming deployments," Ferguson

The remote location of Schoonover offers a near real-world environment immensely benefitting the deploying Airmen.

Ferguson added that early next year the 129th Rescue Squadron will deploy to Southeast Asia, while 130th Rescue Squadron will deploy to the Horn of Africa.

"In a sterile classroom environment, there are certain tasks that need to be followed, but when you get out here and see the real world, you learn to overcome unexpected issues in a very dynamic environment," said Capt. Jeff Gilmore, 615th Contingency Operations Support Group air mobility liaison. "You just can't do it all on a table top exercise."
Gilmore's sentiments were echoed by Tech. Sgt. Fabian Robles, 15th Air Mobility Operation Squadron.

"This has been an eye opening experience," Robles said. "We've had a few in-house exercises but nothing can truly prepare you like working in field conditions."

The 15th AMOS sent its Deployed AMC Communications Element for the first time in field conditions to provide robust computer communications and telephone service.
Not only did the exercise offer much-needed experience, but it facilitated both wings to work in a joint environment.

"Exercises like this allow us to interact and build relationships, while strengthening total force integration," Gilmore said.

The contingency response wing deploys mobility operations and builds partner capacity across the globe. The CRW extends AMC's global reach by mobilizing the fight, providing relief and advancing peace. The wing's personnel are trained to adapt and overcome difficult circumstances, while accelerating air mobility operations anywhere in the world.