Air Force Reserve bombers participate in Pacific exercise

Published June 23, 2006
By Senior Master Sgt. Charles Ramey
Kenney Headquarters Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Airmen from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La., and 10 other Air Force bases joined three Navy carrier strike groups, elements of a Marine Corps aircraft wing and the Coast Guard for one of the largest joint exercises in the Western Pacific June 19-23.

About 22,000 U.S. military people, 30 ships and 280 aircraft converged on the seas and in the skies near Guam for Valiant Shield. More than 1,000 Airmen and a mix of more than 50 Air Force fighter, bomber, mobility and support aircraft, including Barksdale-based Air Force Reserve Command B-52s participated in the integrated joint training.

"Valiant Shield gives us a unique opportunity to hone our warfighting skills," said Lt. Col. Mike Castellani, 93rd BS assistant director of operations. "It validates some old tactics, techniques and procedures using the LITENING targeting pod, our newest piece of equipment, in a joint environment. This allows us to better integrate into the joint force and be better prepared for success during any future contingency."

The Gen. George C. Kenney Headquarters at Hickam AFB was responsible for air operations. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, KHQ commander, served as the joint force air component commander for Adm. Gary Roughead, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander and joint task force commander for Valiant Shield.

Air Force aircraft flew sorties from Andersen AFB, Guam. Navy fighter aircraft launched from the decks of the Lincoln, Kitty Hawk and Reagan carrier strike groups.

The multi-service exercise gave Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines the opportunity to focus on enhancing joint combat skills and interoperability.

"Joint interoperability is the key for U.S. forces to successfully respond to future contingencies," said General Deptula.

"Exercises such as Valiant Shield give us an opportunity to ensure joint command, control and communications procedures are seamless. They give our air, sea, land, space and cyberspace warfighters the ability to quickly accomplish the mission with a wide range of interconnected systems and platforms," he said.

Because the Pacific Ocean takes in such a vast area, integrated air and seapower are essential for immediate response to any event, said the general. Valiant Shield's joint training refines U.S. Pacific Command's ability to present a seamless force to supported and supporting commanders.

"Valiant Shield provides an opportunity to demonstrate and increase the joint force's proficiency to operate in air, surface, subsurface and information mediums," General Deptula said. "It is one of a number of joint and combined exercises conducted in the Pacific to hone our military capability and ensure stability and security throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region."

The exercise builds upon and replaces U.S. Pacific Command's annual joint air and sea exercises that had been held over the past three years. As the joint force air component commander for the exercise, General Deptula commanded all service aviation assets to ensure unity of effort from a joint perspective.

"As the military gets leaner, determining who will be selected as the functional air component commander will depend more on which service component has optimal command-and-control capabilities rather than the number of forces assigned," General Deptula said.

"KHQ is ready to oversee this responsibility whenever called upon," he said. "Our Airmen look forward to working with our sister services and regional partners in projecting peace, power and presence throughout the Pacific for many years to come." (AFRC News Service)