Hardrock finishes deployment training

  • Published
  • By Samantha S. DeVries
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (ACCNS) --  After a week of preparation and another seven days in the field, the 726th Air Control Squadron wrapped up a field training exercise to prepare the unit for combat duty anywhere in the world.

The exercise simulated a deployment to two locations in Southeast Asia to support a fictitious exercise dubbed Operation Nike Freedom.

Capable of deploying its mobile command and control unit anywhere around the world, the squadron began the exercise April 9 with a deployment order. In three days, the unit transformed from its day-to-day posture to a mobilized team ready to move via military vehicle convoy to nearby Saylor Creek Bombing Range.

"We try to conduct at least three phase I and II exercises per year, where we pack up all our equipment, deploy to a new location and perform operations from the deployed location," said Senior Master Sgt. Leonardo Rodriguez, 726th ACS.

Beginning April 14, the air control squadron transformed the desert range into a small-scale, but fully functional forward operating location, or FOL with everything from a surveillance radar to a field kitchen.

"The 726th ACS has the largest tactical vehicle fleet on base," said Sergeant Rodriguez. "We have 27 different Air Force specialty codes in our squadron and are able to sustain ourselves needing only water, fuel and food replenishment."

"We have everything at our sight -- we are our own sufficient base," added Senior Airman Tawny Willis.

According to squadron leadership, the unit sought to meet at least six training goals during the second phase of the exercise. In addition to supporting the 366th Fighter Wing's flying operations in this simulated combat environment, they sought to refine their ability to deploy and run their control and reporting center, or CRC. This meant deploying enough people and equipment to establish, maintain and support the CRC in these austere conditions without relying on the base for additional help.

The roughly 250 people deployed during the week also got a chance to refresh their chemical warfare training while facing aggressor forces portrayed by additional squadron participants. These enemy forces fired blanks, set off explosive ground burst simulators and planted smoke bombs to increase the realism of this training.

"The squadron conducted two of these exercise last year in addition to deployments to Iraq," said Lt. Col. Alvin Vann, 726th ACS commander. "The unit will deploy to Iraq again this fall, and it is important to train for their worldwide mission prior to narrowing their focus to the assigned OIF mission tasking."

Air control squadrons like the 726th serve as primary ground radar elements of the Air Force's theater air control system, which also includes AWACS and JSTARS. They provide air defense and airspace control over the battlefield by keeping track of U.S. and coalition fighter, bomber, surveillance and support aircraft in the region, according to Sergeant Rodriguez.