Holloman supports joint service deployments

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Kocin
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Over the next several months, Holloman will become a staging facility for many joint service deployments, including the U.S. Army and Marines as well as McConnell Air Force Base from Kansas.

According to Mr. Wayne Paddock, 49th Fighter Wing chief of exercise and planning, each unit trains here for real world missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Holloman uses three ranges to do their training: the Centennial, Red Rio and Oscura ranges.

One recent deployment to Holloman was the Canadian air force, 425th Tactical Fighter Wing, CF-18 squadron, who were here to perform close air support for the Canadian army who were deployed to Ft. Bliss, TX. Their mission included conducting air to air and air to ground operations on the Centennial Range with the Ft. Bliss mechanized infantry.

Upcoming deployments include the VFMA-122 U.S. Marine Corps out of Beaufort, S.C. They will bring 10 F/A-18's to conduct training on evaluating the enemy and calling in coordinates to friendly forces using the Red Rio and Oscura ranges.

The U.S. Army 1-351 Aviation out of Ft. Steward, GA, is set to bring seven CH-47 Chinooks and six H-60 Blackhawks in order to prepare and certify Air National Guard crews in advanced gunnery training.

Also deploying to Holloman is the 22nd Air Refueling Wing from McConnell AFB, KS, bringing six KC-135s and three C-17s. Their Operations Readiness Inspection challenge is to deploy off-station with six KC-135s and operate under a simulated Air Tasking Order scenario.

The last of the group includes the U.S. Army from Redstone Arsenal, AL, who will be bringing several Sky Warrior unmanned aerial vehicles.

"It's the wing commander's charge to integrate forces and conduct multi-service, multi-national joint training," said Chief Master Sgt. Carlos Tapia, 49 FW superintendent of exercise and planning.

The deployments are scheduled April through August, bringing the total of more than 500 personnel to the friendliest place on earth.


"The reason we have units standing in line to deploy here is the great training opportunities available in Southern New Mexico," said Col. Michael McGee, 49 FW vice wing commander.

"The training ranges and airspace are among the best in the country, the weather is great, and the terrain is representative of areas we operate for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It also helps that the community is so supportive, and these deploying war fighters always feel completely welcome around the basin."