Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

U.S. Air Force Airmen from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, load the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, assigned to Task Force Talon, equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III during Operation Talon Lightning on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 4, 2022. Operation Talon Lightning is the Army-specific portion of the exercise. Task Force Talon deployed one THAAD launcher and supporting equipment and personnel as a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport. They will establish a firing position, tactical communication, conduct a deployment readiness exercise in austere conditions, and demonstrate the new RL capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Blake Breeden, aerial port supervisor assigned to the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, chains down equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III during Operation Talon Lightning on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 4, 2022. Operation Talon Lightning is the Army-specific portion of the exercise. Task Force Talon deployed one THAAD launcher and supporting equipment and personnel as a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport. They will establish a firing position, tactical communication, conduct a deployment readiness exercise in austere conditions, and demonstrate the new RL capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Oak Lineberry, air transportation technician assigned to the 734th Air Mobility Squadron, secures a trailer onto a C-17 Globemaster III during Operation Talon Lightning on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 4, 2022. Operation Talon Lightning is the Army-specific portion of the exercise. Task Force Talon deployed one THAAD launcher and supporting equipment and personnel as a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport. They will establish a firing position, tactical communication, conduct a deployment readiness exercise in austere conditions, and demonstrate the new RL capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nicholas Smail (left) and Senior Airman Christopher Geer, both assigned to the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, chain down equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III during Operation Talon Lightning on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 4, 2022. Operation Talon Lightning is the Army-specific portion of the exercise. Task Force Talon deployed one THAAD launcher and supporting equipment and personnel as a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport. They will establish a firing position, tactical communication, conduct a deployment readiness exercise in austere conditions, and demonstrate the new RL capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Taylor Williams, loadmaster assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, load the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, assigned to Task Force Talon, equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III during Operation Talon Lightning on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, March 4, 2022. Operation Talon Lightning is the Army-specific portion of the exercise. Task Force Talon deployed one THAAD launcher and supporting equipment and personnel as a THAAD Remote Launch package to Rota International Airport. They will establish a firing position, tactical communication, conduct a deployment readiness exercise in austere conditions, and demonstrate the new RL capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox)

Airmen test MCA capabilities during Operation Talon Lightning

Multi-capable Airmen demonstrate versatility, resiliency during Exercise Nodal Lightning

Published March 8, 2022
By Ms. Amelia Dickson
515th Air Mobility Operations Wing

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --

Airmen from the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing demonstrated their versatility, resiliency and multi-capable Airman capabilities during Exercise Nodal Lightning, which took place Feb. 28 through March 4 in the Indo-Pacific region.

Nodal Lightning is an Air Mobility Command readiness exercise, testing the ability of the 515th AMOW to meet global mobility needs during peacetime and wartime.

“Through this exercise, we wanted to test the 515th AMOW en route capabilities and ensure they are agile enough for peacetime, contingency and wartime requirements,” said Col. Dan Cooley, commander, 515th AMOW. “Our multi-capable Airman teams deployed in the Pacific and our Airmen operating at their home stations clearly showed that they are ready, postured and able to rise to a challenge.”

As part of the exercise, two multi-capable Airman teams deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from the 732d Air Mobility Squadron, located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, and the 735th Air Mobility Squadron, located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. A third team from the 734th Air Mobility Squadron, located at Andersen Air Force Base, also participated.

These Airmen assisted the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command with loading a C-17 Globemaster III to transport Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense equipment from Andersen Air Force Base to Rota International Airport, in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as part of Operation Talon Lightning. Airlift was provided by the 15th Wing, from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

As multi-capable Airmen, the 515th AMOW’s aircraft maintainers and aerial porters learn skills from outside of their career fields, expanding their squadrons’ capabilities and versatility.

Each of the 515th AMOW’s six squadrons participated in Nodal Lightning, challenging their day-to-day operations and simulating wartime activities.

“Nodal Lightning is an excellent learning opportunity for our Airmen, allowing them to demonstrate the capabilities that come from years of hard work and training,” said Chief Master Sgt. Ricky Smith, command chief, 515th AMOW. “Every member of the 515th AMOW team should be proud of what we’ve accomplished during this exercise.”

The 515th AMOW, headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, oversees six air mobility squadrons strategically located throughout the Indo-Pacific region in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Japan and Korea. The 515th AMOW is an Air Mobility Command unit responsible for the movement of cargo and personnel throughout the Indo-Pacific region.