Exercise Eagle Flag focuses on Joint Task Force Port Opening

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center launched its Eagle Flag Exercise Aug. 13, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The first week of the two-week-long exercise is designed to simulate unloading and the transportation of cargo received in a deployed environment.

A Joint Task Force Port Opening at the Lakehurst airfield was conducted by members of the 108th Contingency Response Group, from JB MDL, and the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

A JTF-PO is a process used to quickly open and establish logistical support and open distribution nodes immediately after securing an area.

"The purpose of this specific exercise is for the two units to come together as a joint force ... as a team, to facilitate forward movement of cargo," said Ed Parriski, U.S. EC scenario analyst.

These units will face a variety of scenarios, interacting and working with role-playing locals and will face an abundance of different scenarios throughout the week.

"Eagle Flag is an excellent venue for units to practice working together as a team," said Col. Kenneth D'Alfonso, 633rd Mission Support Group commander from JB LE. "The EC has provided a unique opportunity for those participating to learn and build upon their expeditionary skills."

The 108th CRG provided the air mobility component. The group will be evaluated and examined on their capabilities to receive cargo from an aircraft to supply troops on the ground.

The 688th RPOE's role in the exercise will be to receive the cargo brought in by the 108th CRG and distribute it to forward nodes.

The scenario is a simulation of three fictional countries located on one island. The units conducting the JTF-PO will be located in an ally country bordering countries which have an Al-Qaeda presence and anti-U.S. sentiment.

The exercise is designed to simulate operations in a deployed environment while challenging combatant commanders and operations with scenarios faced downrange. The U.S. Forces must be able to provide a rapid, tailored response to a variety of universal situations. The exercise and associated training brings together those expeditionary support skills a combatant commander needs to execute the assigned mission in a realistic contingency environment, according to the EC website at www.expeditionarycenter.af.mil.