TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Last week the 726th Air Control Squadron participated in Agile Thunder 22-1, an expeditionary skills exercise held at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
Agile Thunder tests the capabilities of deployed personnel to perform in time-sensitive scenarios, where preparedness is imperative. This exercise was conducted in two phases. During phase one the 726th ACS teamed with the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron to process the deployment of personnel and equipment in a limited amount of time. In phase two they constructed a mobile command and control center, to allow battle managers to perform remotely.
As a tactical command and control unit, the 726 ACS is responsible for direct contact with aircraft while managing the battlespace and air battle in real time. First Lt. Erin Dilorenzo, the convoy and site commander for the Deployed Radar Site, provided her unique perspective of the exercise.
“When given a tasking, we have a certain number of hours to have our people and all of our equipment packed up and ready to deploy,” said Dilorenzo. “In this iteration we simulated air transport to an austere location. Upon arrival we drop equipment, convoy out and build a perimeter. It is there where we setup tents, radar and radio equipment, and then pump feedback to the Battle Management areas, for those operators to perform based on the information they receive.”
This is Dilorenzo’s second Agile Thunder exercise, and she says this is the 726 ACS’s opportunity to train hard and practice to perfection, improving capabilities overall.
“This practice is imperative, as it is preparing us to support the detachments in the area of responsibility where we will command,” said Dilorenzo. Adding that it gives Airmen a sense of what it is like when they actually deploy, and is what they must be able to do every day when given a no-notice tasking.
The Lieutenant asked, “Are we able to perform, where we are forced into the field, off the grid, and execute the mission without additional support as we would in an actual deployment? The answer is yes.”
Dilorenzo is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the control and reporting center, and to have been afforded the responsibility of leading convoys, and running 24/7 ops out of tents. She realizes it is not something that everyone in the Air Force is able to experience.