Aircrew takes on Nevada desert

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  Flares popped from the side of C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules aircraft and fell to the desert floor, filling the skies with smoke. Pilots weaved their way through mountainous terrain to avoid threats along an airdrop route trying not to get blown out of the sky.

Fortunately for the 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 crew and the host of other units participating, it was the U.S. Air Force Weapons School Mobility Air Forces Exercise where more than 40 C-17 and C-130 cargo aircraft assembled in aerial formations over the Nevada Test and Training Range to conduct air and ground operations during the bi-annual exercise Nov. 17.

Cargo aircraft from Air Force installations across the country departed their home bases and joined in formation over Nevada's military training ranges to participate in the exercise -- a culminating event for the U.S Air Force Weapons School.

"MAFEX provides realistic training for CAF (combat air force) and MAF (mobility air force) in order to prepare our Weapons School students for both ongoing operations and future contingencies," said Lt. Col. Kevin Oliver, the MAFEX air mission commander. "The tactical lessons learned provided by this air mobility exercise drives Air Force and joint warfighting expertise to the highest level."

The mobility exercise is part of the Weapons School's rigorous curriculum, which is aimed at teaching cargo aircrews how to integrate with fighter aircraft, sensor, intelligence, and space platforms to conduct successful troop and cargo airdrop and air land operations in combat zones.

"It was great to participate in the MAFEX, and it gave me a better perspective of what the Weapons School undergraduates go through while they are there for the six-month school," said Capt. Rob Greeson, 535th AS pilot. "It also showed me how small a community we really are a part of being in the C-17s."

Sitting in the co-pilot's chair during the training mission, Captain Greeson didn't have much time to soak in the moment as he busied himself reading charts, running checklists and watching terrain contours while assisting the pilot as they navigated at low levels through the mountains.

"It does make me feel safer from the missiles being close to the ground and fast like we were," he said.

According to Capt. Dave Morales, 535th AS pilot, the air crew, or Thug 50, did an "outstanding" job rendezvousing on time despite a few issues. Flying into the test and training zone was no easy task either as it was a foreign operating area for the crew with a entirely different set of rules, guidelines and threats.

"We flew perfect rendezvous, on time, and got our jet safely in and out of the Nellis test and training range and successfully airdropped our cargo," Captain Morales said. "The pilot that was flying had never seen a MAFEX before and flew a solid jet. The most critical part about flying in the MAFEX is being on time and understanding the contracts between you and other aircraft."

Pilots across the nation spent a couple of days planning the rendezvous over the Nevada training range to simulate the combat scenario. When 18 aircraft from around the country plan to meet in one spot, it takes a certain level of coordination.

"The procedures were flown to a 'T,' which is a testament to the clarity of the products put out by the weapons undergraduates," the captain said. "When various other elements overran the preceding elements, Thug 50 flight maintained composure and flew a solid jet without getting in the airspace of the preceding aircraft. We were able to effectively get the airdrop off, all the while utilizing effective threat management and (counter response measures)."

According to Captain Morales, a weapons school graduate, the training at the MAFEX gets more and more accurate. With the possibility for GPS jamming this year, the realism of the training took on another dimension of realism. The 535th aircrew was targeted and "shot down" by a large mobile tactical surface-to-air missile.

"This missile system was hiding out about seven miles from the drop zone and since we were unaware that it was out there or firing shots, it was an easy kill for the adversaries," Captain Morlaes said. "Due to the fact that the (missile) did not surface until after the initial CAF push, there was little chance that anyone was going to know it was out there."

As a graduate of the weapons school, Captain Morales was able to take on a different view of the MAFEX, teach his crew while things were happening and provide some guidance based on his experiences. He said the course ranks up there as one of the hardest things he has ever done.

"The U.S. Air Force Weapons School is one of the most demanding schools that exists," Captain Morales said. "Graduates become experts in not only their own major weapons systems, but in the capabilities and limitations of all others."

Graduates of the program can speak joint military languages using the knowledge base they get at the course. If there is information they don't know, the course teaches them to know exactly where they can find it, or who they can turn to for the answer.

"For me, the (weapons school) was hands down the hardest thing I've ever done," he said. "It required 100 percent steadfast devotion to the course for a full six months."

He explained it involves a fire hose of demanding academic instruction and exams, time-compressed planning sessions with huge due-outs in the form of products and game plans, time constrained briefings, a doctorate-level paper on an issue affecting the soldiers currently downrange, and the need to internalize and filter vast amounts of information to determine the ultimate threat -- all the while flying the aircraft at hundreds of miles an hour 500-feet off the ground in some cases.

"It is not a gentlemen's program," the captain said. "And someone who is not fully committed will not make it through. It taught me a ton about personal strengths and weaknesses, but gave me the confidence to tackle any problem that comes my way."

At the end of the day, Captain Morales is one who is completely sold on the exercise and it's realistic training for pilots.

"It is one of the largest exercises that the MAF participates in, and it provides invaluable and extremely realistic training to everyone involved," he explained. "This realistic training includes, actual threats, tactical communication and command and control, realistic Army involvement, CAF involvement, and planning opportunities on a scale that is rarely seen."

Captain Morales is already looking forward to six months from now when he can take another crew and get them involved in the training over the Nevada desert.