721 AMOG exercises airpower

Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Magbanua
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The 721st Air Mobility Operations Group used a C-17 Globemaster III for a mock-hijacking May 23 on the Ramstein flightline, during a Rapid Global Mobility Exercise. The wing aimed to improve the mission readiness of its Airmen through its Rapid Global Mobility Exercise.

The 721st Air Mobility Ope-rations Group concluded a Rapid Global Mobility Exercise May 24 on Ramstein.

Air Mobility Command Air-men at Ramstein conducted the training to enhance their mission readiness with AMC Airmen from the U.S. also participating.

“This exercise is meant to test how we respond to stressful situations, in real-world operations as well as circumstances which don’t usually happen,” said Master Sgt. Melissa Vela, superintendent of the 313th Expeditionary Operations Sup-port Squad-ron’s air mobility control center. “It’s supposed to keep us on our toes, and to find where we have holes. As far as how quickly we communicate and respond, having these exercises can help us prepare for the real thing.”

A variety of mock scenarios played out, all of which were designed to test the responses of Airmen under adverse circumstances.

The scenarios included a cyber -attack, fuel spill, aircraft hi-jacking, and aero-medical evacuation.

Tech. Sgt. John Lundberg, 721st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, plays the role of a patient during an exercise May 24 on Ramstein. The 721st Air Mobility Operations Group included a variety of scenarios designed to test its Airmen’s response to adverse situations during a Rapid Global Mobility Exercise.

Maj. Garrett Danker, 313 EOSS director of operations, said the exercise was a success for the 721 AMOG. Danker added that the Airmen’s performance exhibit their capabilities to respond to emergencies, whether in the world or in training.

“We did very well,” he said. “We were able to provide an instructional topic for our leadership and a measureable objective that we were able to accomplish for each of our squadrons. We are always trying to adapt and learn as we go, the AMOG is real-world every day. Our exercise was just showing that not only can we handle the real world, but the challenges of the exercise as well.”

As the Airmen carry on with their exercise, they seek to improve their skills in order to continue supporting the AMC mission: to provide global reach and mobility anywhere in the world.

First Lt. Jake Silvola-Finch, 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, interacts with a simulated patient during an exercise May 24 on Ramstein. The 721st Air Mobility Operations Group conducted a Rapid Global Mobility Exercise, which saw participation not just from Air Mobility Command Airmen assigned to Ramstein, but also the continental U.S.