U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Jones, with the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard, marshals in a C-130H Hercules aircraft during Saber Junction 19 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sep. 17, 2019. SJ19 is an exercise involving 16 allies and partner nations at the U.S. Army’s Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas, Sept. 3-30. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Patrick Evenson)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, By Capt. Rhonda Brown, Germany – Approximately 115 Airmen assigned to the 139th Airlift Wing's Maintenance Group and Operations Group, Missouri Air National Guard, supported Saber Junction 2019 (SJ19) Sept. 3- 30.
SJ19 is a 7th Army Training Command (7ATC) conducted, U.S. Army Europe, directed annual exercise designed to assess the readiness of the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade to execute unified land operations in a joint, combined environment, and to promote interoperability with allies and partner nations.
"I am so proud to see the 139th Airlift Wing lead such a huge endeavor," said Lt. Col. Barrett Golden, Saber Junction air mission commander.
For the second consecutive year, the 180th Airlift Squadron, assigned to the 139 AW, was the lead unit for the airlift portion of the large-scale exercise.
"It is an absolute testimony to the professionalism and work tenacity that the 139th Airlift Wing possesses," said Golden. "I am so proud of the 139th and their ability to endure incredible challenges and still adapt with mission success. That is why we keep getting invited back."
The U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard supported SJ19 by providing personnel airdrop and air landing support of airfield seizure.
Together they have conducted personnel airdrops with more than 500 soldiers in the Hohenfeld drop zone, along with low-cost, low altitude, container delivery system and heavy equipment airdrops for a combined total of 617,000 pounds dropped in the Hohenburg drop zone.
This year the 139th joined the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing, Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing and the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing from Colorado Springs.
"I am proud to see our Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve brothers and sisters integrate with such amazing interoperability," said Golden.
U.S. military forces stationed in Europe routinely conduct these types of exercises with allied and partner nations to enhance interoperability and readiness.
By Coutesy