Page 12 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, October 2, 2020

12 October 2, 2020 news Desert lightning news s. nevaDa
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nttr, from Page 1 providing the manning and infra-
structure to support those needs.
The NTTR provides a full and “Last year we had 33,000 range
detailed picture of who the enemy users,” said Master Sgt. Jeremy
is and what they present; this chal- Cunningham, operations sup-
lenges U.S. and coalition forces port superintendent at the NTTR.
to figure out real-time problems, “Whether we support large force
while honing warfighting tech- exercises involving NATO nations,
niques. to singular operations to improve
As the free world’s largest con- combat readiness, the range has the
tiguous air and ground space flexibility to accommodate most
available for peacetime military varieties of training.”
operations, the NTTR provides Those requests equate to ap-
the U.S. and its allies with critical proximately 40,000 sorties yearly.
training and testing opportunities “The range prepares people who
that is unmatched throughout the are about to go into harm’s way,”
DoD, echoed Prince. said Roger Christensen, chief of
“You learn more being shot the NTTR environmental office.
down once over the NTTR during “I truly believe the more we train,
an exercise, than you learn from 10 the harder we train and the more
successful missions,” said Prince. realistic that training is, results in
“The lessons you learn here keep less sacrifice, and less lives lost in
you from spilling blood in combat battle. I never want us to lose sight
and that’s something that can’t be of that, and that’s why the NTTR is
quantified.” so vital to the overall mission. Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young
Every day military leaders reach Editor’s Note: This is the first Nevada Test and Training Range project managers pose for a photo outside of the NTTR headquarters
out to the NTTR with their require- installment in a three-part series building at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 22, 2020. Project Managers are responsible for execution
ments for training, testing or evalu- highlighting the Nevada Test and oversight of exercises supported by the NTTR. They oversee exercise support and airspace scheduling
ation. Then, the NTTR goes about Training Range. for real-time operations of the range monitoring facility.

COmbAt, from Page 1 are still running while receiving fuel.
Hochgesang said this was one of the
as a joint team — connecting sensors, trickiest parts of the exercise.
decision makers and weapons through a “As heavy maintainers, we’re usually
secure data network enabling rapid deci- not around fighter aircraft much,” said
sion making and all-domain command Hochgesang, who was a C-17 Globemas-
and control. ter III crew chief prior to being assigned
The 621st Contingency Response to the CRW. “Luckily, we’ve gotten the
Wing team provided security forces, opportunity to shadow F-16 maintain-
command and control, aircraft mainte- ers at Shaw to get our feet wet, which
nance, aerial port and communications is very helpful. Every fighter is a little
Airmen for the ACE exercise. bit different, so it’s important for us to
During the exercise, the team flew recognize those subtle differences prior
from Buckley to Nellis via New York’s to a mission.”
109th Airlift Wing LC-130 Hercules As if the intricacies of a new aircraft
aircraft. weren’t enough of a challenge, the CRW
“After we land, everything moves maintainers also had to perform the hot
quick,” said Tech. Sgt. Greg Hochgesang, pit refuel in a fraction of the time it is
621st Contingency Response Squadron normally accomplished.
aircraft maintenance craftsman. “It’s impressive to see how quickly it
Once the Devil Raiders landed on the happens,” said Boston. “From the time
first chalk, the security forces Airmen they’re on the ground, the goal is to get
secured the airfield in a traditional and the F-16s fueled, armed and airborne
unconventional way. again in 45 minutes.”
“Our defenders employed the robot Once the ICT was complete, all air-
dogs,” said Master Sgt. Lee Boston, 321st Air Force photograph craft took off in the reverse order in
CRS loadmaster and the CR team chief Tech. Sgt. Johnny Rodriguez, 321st Contingency Response Squadron force protection which they landed.
for the exercise. “These robot dogs are a craftsman and lead defender for the CR team, walks with the robot dog during an agile “I thought our team executed flaw-
new technology that we’re testing as part combat employment exercise Sept. 3, 2020, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The robot dog is lessly, which is no surprise but it was
of the exercise. The dogs give us visuals of an experimental technology with the intent of aiding defenders to secure an airfield and is good to see our Airmen represented
the area, all while keeping our defenders part of the Advance Battle Management System, which is being tested during ACE exercise. well,” said Boston.
closer to the aircraft.” Boston sees value in CRW units par-
After the airfield was secured, main- C-130, the aircraft maintainers were this case was four F-16 Fighting Falcons ticipating in these types of exercises in
tainers assessed their own aircraft for marshalling the MC-130J Commando II, from the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw the future.
damage, then marshalled the next LC- which brings the forward area refueling Air Force Base, South Carolina, and the “At a minimum, these are great dis-
130 into its spot. point or FARP capability. 140th Wing at Buckley, which landed cussions to have,” said Boston. “Agile
“The second chalk has the munitions, “As soon as [they] parked, you see the shortly after the MC-130J. Combat Employment is not a new con-
weapon loaders, rolling stock and other loading ramp lower and immediately you Once the F-16s were on the ground, cept, but as we continue to find more
supporting Airmen,” said Hochgesang. see Airmen bring down the fuel hoses the weapons loaders expediently armed efficient ways of using our mobility and
“Immediately after landing, the muni- to get set up for the Integrated Combat the F-16, then the “hot pit” refueling combat forces, it’s important that we
tions and weapon loaders set up their Turn,” said Hochgesang. process began. The hot pit refuel is the communicate the need to be multifunc-
loading site.” The ICT is the term for rapid re-arm- term for when at least some of the aircraft tional and to find better ways of doing
After a quick assessment of the second ing and refueling of an aircraft, which in instrumentation and possibly engines the mission.”