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JFEX returns with a twist

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Team Pope teamed up with the 82nd Airborne Division for a Joint Forcible Entry Exercise Jan. 26 through 30 in order to prepare for possible combat scenarios. As an added twist and to coincide with the exercise, Team Pope reinstituted an old program that "swaps" a member of the 43rd Airlift Wing with personnel from the en route maintenance squadron (now the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron) in order to better acquaint themselves with each other's mission. 

On Tuesday, Airman Ashley LaGrow and Master Sgt. James Koch, 43rd Comptroller Squadron, were able to assist in some of the day-to-day operations involving the flightline side of things while 2nd Lt. Matt Miller, also 43rd CPTS, was able to get directly involved with the JFEX aspect of the mission. 

"Every JFEX has its own set of training objectives for both Army and Air Force, so each JFEX could be said to be different from previous exercises," Capt. Justin Godfrey, 43rd AMXS Operations Officer, said. 

Since Team Pope participates in a JFEX roughly every eight weeks, the event is more interesting when things are done differently; 43rd CPTS members getting involved in flightline operations is a perfect example of this concept. 

"I like it," Airman LaGrow said on her way out to the flightline. "I am usually behind a desk so this is something new and exciting to try." 

Airman LaGrow helped marshal in a C-5 aircraft for the first time Tuesday thanks to the exchange program. 

"I believe anyone, any rank would benefit from a swap program," she said. "The swap program takes you out of your element and really allows you to experience something completely new to you. I believe knowledge is important, and any knowledge obtained helps promote respect of fellow Airmen and a better understanding of their mission, which ultimately should be looked at as our mission." 

Lieutenant. Miller also experienced new things when he helped install a two-man seat on a C-130 later that night during the actual JFEX. 

"I think it's amazing to see all the different moving parts and to see how many things are involved just to get an airplane off of the ground," he said. "It's pretty phenomenal. It was good to see that something I do on the support side of the base makes a difference for the operational side of things." 

Captain Godfrey likes the fact that these JFEXs give his people the chance to participate in a joint environment just like during actual combat situations. 

"JFEXs allow the Army and Air Force to practice airfield seizure and brigade airdrop operations in a truly joint environment," he said. "The Bragg-Pope team is home to an incredible piece of combat capability in the form of the 82nd Airborne Division, and a JFEX allows the joint team to 'practice like we would play' to prepare for possible combat scenarios." 

Captain Godfrey said these exercises are planned by the 82nd Airborne Division and a lead airlift wing or group designated by Air Mobility Command. As a result, a host of support and logistics agencies are involved in the process. 

The primary players from Pope involved in the planning process are the 43rd AMXS, the 43rd Operations Support Squadron, 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 3rd Aerial Port Squadron. However, 43rd Security Forces Squadron, 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron, 43rd Communications Squadron and a number of personnel from bases like Charleston, Little Rock, Dyess and McChord played a part in the exercise. 

According to Captain Godrey, these exercises are necessary to the overall effectiveness of the combat mission. 

"Everyone involved benefits from a JFEX," he said. "This is because the Army and Air Force are practicing a mission we could be called upon at any time to execute. For the support and logistics personnel, this is especially critical. Our duties and responsibilities will change very little in a real-world situation, so a JFEX allows us to really evaluate our capabilities and proficiency at what we do." 

Captain Godfrey said the expectations for this exercise are to fly around 100 sorties and airdrop more than 3,000 paratroopers. 

Most of the personnel drops were conducted at night while during the day resupply missions were flown. When flying was not occurring, planners worked on the next events by preparing cargo operations, maintaining and servicing the aircraft, and providing fuel for the next sorties.