'Large Package Week' provides realistic airdrop training
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. (USTCNS) --- Six C-17s carried Charleston Air Force Base aircrews and maintainers to Large Package Week at Pope AFB, N.C., Feb. 5.
Another seven C-17s participated Feb. 9. LPW is one of the largest airdrop exercises in the United States.
LPW is joint Army and Air Force training held several times a year to practice large-scale airdrop missions for personnel and equipment Training requirements include secure communications between all units involved and a 90 percent delivery rate of all airdrop loads. The realistic training helps the participating Army units since they are put on alert to perform this type of mission shortly after an LPW.
More than 60 members of the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings working with members from the 325th Airborne Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C., and other Air Force units. Charleston airmen from airlift, aerial port, and operations support squadrons and the logistics group created realistic training to prepare both the Air Force and Army for an actual massive troop airdrop.
"While the aircrews worked hard to accomplish their objectives, I don't want to discount the efforts of the maintainers," said Col. Robert Allardice, 437th Operations Group commander and Air Force mission commander for the LPW. "In between missions they had to ensure the planes were ready to go again."
The 17th Airlift Squadron provided the lead planes for the event with additional support from other airlift squadrons and the Reserve. Several months of planning went into Charleston's role during LPW to ensure the maximum amount of training could be accomplished for Army and Air Force personnel.
"The relationship that we have with Charleston supporting us for LPW is a special one," said Army Maj. Mike Mitchell, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., "Every time they come in here, they go out of their way to give us everything we need to train. I can't say enough for how they do their job."
In addition, Charleston airmen supported CAPSTONE, the brigadier general officer orientation course, Feb 6. CAPSTONE attendees observed LPW and saw an aerial assault demonstration carried out by A-10 Thunderbolts and various maneuvers by Air Mobility Command aircraft.
The following day, Charleston aircrews airdropped two 325th Airborne Brigade battalions that began a surge of Army training on the ground. One-third airdropped at the landing zone with their equipment while the remaining paratroopers were airdropped several kilometers away.
"Basically, what we were trying to do with these exercises was practice seizing the airfield and controlling it," said Mitchell. "The units brought in by Charleston were to come together and prepare the airfield for the heavy equipment to come the following day."
Feb. 9 was the most active day for the Charleston airmen. First, a special operations low-level equipped C-17 performed a high altitude, low level opening airdrop of special forces. Then, three C-17s flew to Savannah, Ga., to retrieve missile launcher equipment. During their trip to bring back equipment, the planes went through simulated surface-to-air missile controlled airspace, learning to react to hostile threats from the ground.
"Being shot at from the ground with simulated missiles is extremely good tactical training," said a lead pilot, Capt. Joe Szucs, 17th AS. "As long as they are not real," he joked.
During this training, Charleston aircraft continued to increase the scale of the event. Six aircraft brought a total of 600 Army personnel to the drop zone, while another three C-17s brought in "heavy loads," such as howitzers and other equipment used to defend an airfield.
Just before the aircraft began converging on the target area, they practiced formation refueling with tanker aircraft. All aircraft came on target for the drop zone within moments of one another, complete with simulated live fire on the ground.
Charleston participates regularly in the LPW with the Army.
Each year the Army has six or more LPWs, with Charleston taking the lead on two of them. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
Another seven C-17s participated Feb. 9. LPW is one of the largest airdrop exercises in the United States.
LPW is joint Army and Air Force training held several times a year to practice large-scale airdrop missions for personnel and equipment Training requirements include secure communications between all units involved and a 90 percent delivery rate of all airdrop loads. The realistic training helps the participating Army units since they are put on alert to perform this type of mission shortly after an LPW.
More than 60 members of the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings working with members from the 325th Airborne Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C., and other Air Force units. Charleston airmen from airlift, aerial port, and operations support squadrons and the logistics group created realistic training to prepare both the Air Force and Army for an actual massive troop airdrop.
"While the aircrews worked hard to accomplish their objectives, I don't want to discount the efforts of the maintainers," said Col. Robert Allardice, 437th Operations Group commander and Air Force mission commander for the LPW. "In between missions they had to ensure the planes were ready to go again."
The 17th Airlift Squadron provided the lead planes for the event with additional support from other airlift squadrons and the Reserve. Several months of planning went into Charleston's role during LPW to ensure the maximum amount of training could be accomplished for Army and Air Force personnel.
"The relationship that we have with Charleston supporting us for LPW is a special one," said Army Maj. Mike Mitchell, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., "Every time they come in here, they go out of their way to give us everything we need to train. I can't say enough for how they do their job."
In addition, Charleston airmen supported CAPSTONE, the brigadier general officer orientation course, Feb 6. CAPSTONE attendees observed LPW and saw an aerial assault demonstration carried out by A-10 Thunderbolts and various maneuvers by Air Mobility Command aircraft.
The following day, Charleston aircrews airdropped two 325th Airborne Brigade battalions that began a surge of Army training on the ground. One-third airdropped at the landing zone with their equipment while the remaining paratroopers were airdropped several kilometers away.
"Basically, what we were trying to do with these exercises was practice seizing the airfield and controlling it," said Mitchell. "The units brought in by Charleston were to come together and prepare the airfield for the heavy equipment to come the following day."
Feb. 9 was the most active day for the Charleston airmen. First, a special operations low-level equipped C-17 performed a high altitude, low level opening airdrop of special forces. Then, three C-17s flew to Savannah, Ga., to retrieve missile launcher equipment. During their trip to bring back equipment, the planes went through simulated surface-to-air missile controlled airspace, learning to react to hostile threats from the ground.
"Being shot at from the ground with simulated missiles is extremely good tactical training," said a lead pilot, Capt. Joe Szucs, 17th AS. "As long as they are not real," he joked.
During this training, Charleston aircraft continued to increase the scale of the event. Six aircraft brought a total of 600 Army personnel to the drop zone, while another three C-17s brought in "heavy loads," such as howitzers and other equipment used to defend an airfield.
Just before the aircraft began converging on the target area, they practiced formation refueling with tanker aircraft. All aircraft came on target for the drop zone within moments of one another, complete with simulated live fire on the ground.
Charleston participates regularly in the LPW with the Army.
Each year the Army has six or more LPWs, with Charleston taking the lead on two of them. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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