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A MC-130J from the 415th Special Operations Squadron performs low-level flying exercises over the mountains of Washington, June 15, 2023. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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1st Lt. Austin Lininger, 415th Special Operations Squadron student pilot, controls an MC-130J aircraft during a flight in Washington, June 15, 2023. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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A MH-60 “BlackHawk” prepares to conduct mid-air refueling while flying in Washington, June 15, 2023. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s mission is to organize, equip, train, resource and employ Army special operations aviation forces worldwide in support of contingency missions and combatant commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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Master Sgt. Troy Hoover, Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Squadron student loadmaster, signals an MH-60 “Blackhawk” helicopter from the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment to conduct aerial refueling at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 15, 2023. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Banach, 415th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, and Master Sgt. Troy Hoover, Air National Guard 193rd Special Operation Squadron student loadmaster, performs aircraft and cargo inspections at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 14, 2023. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Banach, 415th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, waits to open an MC-130J’s backdoor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, June 14, 2023.The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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Maj. Pia Gray, 415th Special Operations Squadron MC-130J instructor pilot, and 1st Lt. Angelina Robledo, 58th Training Squadron student pilot, performs pre-flight operations before take-off at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington June 14, 2023. The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

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1st. Lt. Emma Waterman, 415th Special Operations Squadron student combat systems officer, performs aircrew duties as a combat systems officer at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 14, 2023.The 58th Special Operations Wing conducted a Mission Command Exercise and student training exercises with the U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, to allow students to gain experience working out in the field and with other joint-forces.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ruben Garibay)

58th Special Operations Wing Mission Command Exercise

Published June 22, 2023
By Airman 1st. Class Ruben Garibay
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

The 58th Special Operations Wing located at Kirtland Air Force Base, conducted a Mission Command Exercise (MCE) and student training exercises with the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 14-21, 2023.

“We are here to train these students to ensure they are qualified and competent in the MC-130J aircraft,” said Maj. Mark Walker, 415th Special Operations Squadron mission commander. “Part of the mission is conducting syllabus events and showing them the ropes of working with joint forces which helps them get a feel of what it is like to be SOF [special operations] and on the road.”

The team performed various exercises that included helicopter aerial refueling with the 160th SOAR, low-level flying routines in the rigid mountains of Washington, infiltration and exfiltration exercises with U.S. Army paratroopers, cargo delivery system air-drops, and safely securing and deploying air cargo.

“Normally, the students' training is conducted on the same base, in the same local areas which gives them a limited scope as to how to plan a mission,” exclaimed Walker. “The great thing about coming out here is the ability of introducing our students to different areas and introducing them to a more dynamic environment while working with joint forces which inevitably is what they will be doing when they go operational.”

The students who took part in this exercise were not only student pilots, but loadmaster students as well, working together in the same aircraft exercising their book training in a real world environment.

“We have not seen anything like this before,” said 1st Lt. Angelina Robledo, 415th Special Operations Squadron student pilot. “The fact that it is so consistent with our training and we are actually working with the people who we will be working with operationally is amazing.”

Robledo shared that the most difficult thing about this deployment was training in a new environment. She also mentioned this was the first time herself and other students were using what they have learned from the Kirtland schoolhouse and Air Education and Training Command.

Maintainers from the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were deployed with the 415th SOS team as well. The 58th AMXS maintainers supported the 415th SOS MCE by taking their expertise from home base to a completely new environment, scene and work space.

“Our goal here as maintenance is to provide a fully functional aircraft to allow the aircrew and mission commander the capability to fulfill their mission goals,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Gomez, 58th AMXS avionics craftsman. “Having limited resources helps our maintainers become more proficient by utilizing the tools that are readily available to them compared to working with tools that are normally accessible at our home station.”

Overall, Team Kirtland utilized their training to successfully complete the mission at hand.

“The best part of this temporary deployment has been the people, the great amount of effort shown from our instructors and our maintenance team who has been incredible putting in a great amount of work and support,” Maj. Mark Walker shares.