Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Large C-17 formation to take off from Joint Base Charleston on Wednesday

C17 // 0107
A multi-ship C-17 formation is scheduled to take off Wednesday morning, April 10, to conduct a variety of training missions.

Up to 21 C-17s will take off in the morning and will depart on a training route that will include airdrops, aerial refueling and low level tactical training.

The exercise has been coordinated with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and will not delay regularly scheduled flights at Charleston International Airport.

This large formation exercise (LFE) is a total-force effort with aircrews consisting of active-duty Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing and Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing. The last LFE was conducted in 2010. This exercise is not in response to real-world events.

Wednesday’s event will complete over 600 training requirements and will maintain mission readiness. LFEs are an efficient method of training C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, maintenance and support Airmen on a wide variety of requirements in a short period of time.

These skills are needed at all times to ensure the Joint Base Charleston team can move large amounts of forces, cargo or passengers when called upon or when ordered to evacuate due to an incoming hurricane.

"The skills we test today are the same skills we would use to provide our country’s response to a crisis or a conflict anywhere in the world," said Col. Trevor Nitz, 437th Operations Group commander. "Despite current challenges, Airmen are obligated to maintain mission readiness and stand ready to deliver our country’s resolve."

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