JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The 62nd Airlift Wing and the 555th Engineer Brigade worked together to move equipment, vehicles and service members by C-17 Globemaster III to Moses Lake May 21.
The 555th Engr. Bde. hosted a deployment readiness exercise that tested their ability to deploy on short notice.
"Readiness is the keystone to any quick reaction force," said U.S. Army Capt. Ian Hertig, 555th Engr. Bde. assistant plans officer. "When the balloon goes up, it's only through the joint effort of the Army and Air Force that we can get the needed troops where and when they need to be for mission success. This training facilitated just that, providing invaluable lessons to our defense chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear response force units that has better prepared our personnel, vehicles and equipment to respond at a moment's notice."
A C-17 aircrew flew three trips between Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Grant County Airport at Moses Lake, transporting vehicles, pallets of equipment and Soldiers to where they were conducting their training.
"Working with the Air Force provided critical (defense chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) deployment training, not only to the platoon but the entire brigade," Hertig said. "That can't be replicated through any other means."
Designed to carry both cargo and troops, the C-17 aircrew transported more than 40 Soldiers, three different types of vehicles and multiple pallets of equipment throughout the day.
"The maximum load for takeoff is a little over (85 tons)," said Air Force Maj. Matthew Burton, 4th Airlift Squadron pilot. "We are close to that with some of these loads."
Although a C-17 aircrew can be as few as three people -- a pilot, co-pilot and loadmaster -- three loadmasters crewed this mission to ensure everything ran as smoothly as possible.
"This is not your normal flight," said Air Force Tech Sgt. Brian Layton, 4th AS loadmaster. "We only fly these types of training missions a few times a year."
The unique mission allowed Airmen and Soldiers to work together to improve and hone their skills.
"By working with the Air Force we identified shortfalls as well as best practices that could only be gained through joint training like this," Hertig said.
Joint training ensures all service members, regardless of branch, can work together to complete any mission at any time.
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