German air force wraps up Mountain Roundup 2010

  • Published
  • By Airman Samuel Anderson
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The German air force wrapped up its seventh annual Mountain Roundup two-part exercise, Oct. 29.

The three week long exercise formerly known as the German Air Force Military Exercise moved to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, in 2005 and the exercise was officially changed to Mountain Roundup in 2009.

The exercise brings a variety of fighter, bomber and supporting aircraft to the local area. It allows the 389th Fighter Squadron, 391st FS, the 266th Range Squadron and the 726th Air Control Squadron to participate in realistic large force exercises.

"It presents unique lessons learned to the maintenance group in terms of coordination and integration of local resources with several joint international visiting units," said Capt. Casey Richardson, 391st FS flight commander.

Mountain Roundup will also have support from 314th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron from Miramar Air Base, Calif.; the 309th FS from Luke AFB, Ariz.; and Electronic Attack Squadron 132, 388th Electronic Combat Squadron and the Electronic Attack Squadron 140 from Whidbey Island, Wash. These squadrons along with many others from around the country will have the unique chance to fly with eight German air force electronic and reconnaissance Tornados.

"The option to monitor and control the planned mission as mission commander from the 266th RANS "Cowboy Control" is a training experience that cannot be valued enough," said Maj. Tobias Hoffmann, GAF Tornado Fighter Weapons School mission employment phase manager.

There are two main elements involved in Mountain Roundup. The first part is to perform five German air force Weapons School Mission Execution missions, or large force exercises. These five exercises bring together U.S. joint flying units and GAF Tornado aircraft into a collective war-fighting package with the GAF weapons school students leading as the overall mission commanders. The Mountain Home Range Complex airspace affords excellent conditions for accurate and realistic wartime training because of its expansive area and world-class target complexes in the Saylor Creek and Juniper Butte ranges.

"For the German Weapons School, this exercise can easily be called the highlight of a very demanding seven month training course," Major Hoffmann said. "The versatile airspace and the outstanding support of the 366th FW presents a huge training possibility and the same time the chance to work with many different services and aircrews."

The second part of the exercise is the continuation of training opportunities available for all of the other, non-GAF, visiting units. There are four large-force exercises that the GAF participates in, and U.S. units will lead as mission commanders. These large-force exercises take advantage of MHRC's unique capabilities. In addition, each afternoon the visiting units perform smaller-scale integrated missions with local units and other visiting units to accomplish individual upgrades for aircrew members.

"With the incorporation of U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force into an exercise planned by the German air force, Mountain Roundup 2010 has again achieved the high level of training quality," Major Hoffmann said. "The German air force is thankful for this great training option and warm welcome here in Idaho."