Fairchild conducts large-scale readiness exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anneliese Kaiser
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Fairchild completed a large-scale readiness exercise, allowing Airmen to put Multi-Capable Airmen concepts and Agile Combat Employment tactics to the test, Dec. 6-9, 2021.

Key training points in this exercise included hot pit refueling, aircrew servicing aircraft, advanced communication systems, and contingency response operations at various simulated austere locations with limited resources and personnel.

“This LRE had a lot of firsts,” said Capt. Ian Maier, 92nd Operations Group chief of wing tactics and ACE exercise planner. “This is the first AMC use of Integrated Waveform communications systems from base to base, first KC-135 Stratotanker hot refueling at Mountain Home Air force Base, first Fairchild multi-day and multi-part ACE exercise, and first simulated deployment of a KC-135 Multi-Capable Airmen team.”


During the exercise, aircrews flew to Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord and Moses Lake to perform various maintenance tasks away from home station.

“Airmen simulated deploying to an austere location, they are catching jets, establishing communications, acting semi-autonomously, and generating sorties,” Maier said. “This is the role of the multi-capable Airmen concept playing out.”

Airmen participating in the LRE on-station focused on training contingency response operation to simulated attacks. This included the use of Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear, Self-Aid Buddy Care scenarios, and rapid generation of alternate operational facilities.

“Readiness is paramount to what we accomplish around the world, and this exercise was incredibly important in training and preparing our Airmen,” said Col. Jeffery Marshall, 92nd ARW vice commander, and acting Deployed Force Commander for the exercise. “We are proud of the exceptional performance this wing has sustained for so long, and for the Airmen who execute our critical mission and carry forth the proud legacy of Fame’s Favored Few.”