SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- In support of Air Mobility Command's largest and longest military exercise, Exercise Mobility Guardian, the 618th Air Operations Center mobilized air refueling support for participating aircraft across Wisconsin and Michigan, May 15-27, 2021.
This biennial exercise includes AMC’s first large-scale integration of cutting-edge concepts to advance warfighting capabilities. Multi-Capable Mobility Airmen will demonstrate speed and agility while enabling refueling and re-arming of fighter aircraft in an austere location. Aircrew and mission planners will use specialized computers and communications aboard aircraft to rapidly share data, promoting increased awareness of simulated threats against forces and better, faster decision making.
"Mobility Guardian challenges mobility Airmen with a difficult, realistic and detailed training to maximize learning through the integration of multiple Air Force platforms and functions across all domains, while testing new concepts to advance our capabilities," said Capt. Alexander Hutcheson, Exercise Mobility Guardian Lead Air Planner. "The goal is for participants to return to their units with a realistic experience on the nature of future conflicts and with lessons learned on how we might best employ new tactics, techniques and procedures to counter any adversary."
More than 1,800 Air Force participants operated 18 mobility aircraft at six locations in Michigan and Wisconsin in order to demonstrate Air Mobility Command’s ability to provide Rapid Global Mobility for America and the Joint Force. The exercise also included the first-ever integration of the KC-46 Pegasus into AMC's flagship exercise.
Tanker aircraft, like the KC-46, provide mobility forces with the air refueling support they need to conduct sustained operations. Through the deployment of this air refueling capabilities, Air Mobility Command is able to act as a force extender, increasing the range of our bomber, fighter, and mobility aircraft,