KC-30 and C-17 deploy to McChord Air Base
Air mobility squadrons at RAAF Base Amberley have deployed a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and a C-17A Global Airlifter to the United States to participate in the multinational Defence exercise codenamed ‘Mobility Guardian’, to test the ADF’s air mobility capability.
More than 3,000 personnel from 25 countries gathered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington to test mobility capability and interoperability with allied nations.
Mobility squadrons such as 36 Squadron (C-17A) and 33 Squadron (KC-30A) are often first on the ground at a deployed base, bringing in personnel and equipment to set up for air and ground elements of the deployed force.
“Mobility airmen are often the first to arrive and the last to depart, to provide continuous support to the joint warfighter,” said General Carlton Everhart, US Air Force Air Mobility Command commander.
“Simply put, success requires our Total Force team of mobility airmen to work together with joint and international partners.
Exercising our capabilities together is critical so that when we are called upon, we can deliver air power quickly and precisely.”
Although conducted in the United States, Mobility Guardian has the backdrop of the global war on terror, employing air mobility aircraft types that continue to be heavily involved in the war against the Islamic State.
Combat Air Forces also supported the exercise scenarios with an array of fighter and bomber capability, including F-35s, F-16s, A-10s, F-15Es, F-15Cs, B-52s and the B-2.
LTCOL Jeremy Wagner, Mobility Guardian Director said, “We basically took every air mobility skillset and said, ‘what would the ideal exercise for each of our different mission sets look like?’ Then we combined them all into one.
“The exercise is about strengthening partnerships, discovery, learning and improving together as an integrated team.
“Any Combat Air Forces involvement simulates what we would see real-world, but really it is push these members to the limits within the safe parameters of what they’re capable of doing. We’ve built something really fantastic and I think people are responding to that,” said Wagner. “We’re getting people calling all of the time saying that they want to be a part of this.”
For its part, the RAAF joined the global air mobility coalition with the purchase of the C-17 and KC-30 fleets, and it needs to be able to operate with other air forces in coalition. The deployment to Washington State provided the opportunity to work with its allies conducting realistic Rapid Global Mobility training, covering airlift, airdrop, air-to-air refuelling, aero-medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, plus other missions.
Cooperation with international partners through such activities further improves the inherent capability of the Australian Defence Force.
by John Armstrong