By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
The 302nd Airlift Wing’s active participation in the Ivy Mass 2024 joint exercise exemplifies the strategic importance of integrated military operations. This 10-day exercise, held from June 3-13 at Peterson Space Force Base and Fort Carson, Colorado, aimed to enhance command and control capabilities within a multi-domain warfare scenario. The event brought together the Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Marine Corps, emphasizing the significance of inter-service cooperation in modern military engagements.
Exercise Ivy Mass focused on leveraging combined arms in a coordinated effort. The Army’s operations played a crucial role in fire support coordination, with the Air Force Reserve providing indispensable airlift capabilities. Army Major Matthew Van Vliet highlighted the critical nature of the Air Force’s involvement, stating, “The capabilities provided by the C-130 facilitated the completion of mission essential tasks for both Army active and National Guard components.”
This exercise demonstrated the tactical prowess of the participating units and underscored the operational readiness required in large-scale conflicts. The 302nd Airlift Wing’s deployment of C-130H Hercules aircraft was a pivotal element, completing 17 sorties and over 1,300 training events. These missions encompassed airdrop, air mobility, and flight operations, reflecting the versatility and reliability of the C-130H in diverse combat scenarios.
Former Commanding General, Army Futures Command, Ret. Gen. John Murray
During the exercise, the 302nd Airlift Wing integrated closely with Army personnel, executing complex operations such as the insertion of Special Forces into multiple objective areas using advanced airdrop techniques, including high-altitude military parachuting and military free fall. Additionally, they transported all-terrain vehicles to austere locations utilizing expedited engine-running offload procedures at unimproved dirt airstrips. This level of coordination is critical for rapid deployment and logistical support in real-world combat situations.
Most importantly, the exercise featured the loading of an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into the cargo bay of the C-130H. This light multiple-rocket launcher tactical vehicle can be transported by three different types of cargo aircraft, showcasing the Air Force’s flexibility in supporting ground operations. “It’s crucial for the different branches to continue and increase joint training as we look towards large-scale combat operations,” emphasized Army Major Matthew Tieszen, reflecting on the necessity of such integrated exercises for future preparedness.
Furthermore, exercise ivy mass pushed aircrews to operate under varied stress conditions, including night military freefall, GPS-denied environments, and evasion tactics involving chaff and flare deployment. These scenarios are designed to prepare personnel for the unpredictability and high-stress nature of actual combat. The training also included specialized refueling operations, ensuring aircraft could be rapidly refueled and redeployed, a crucial capability in sustained combat operations.
A significant aspect of the training was the inclusion of aeromedical evacuation scenarios. Flight paramedics from the 34th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron practiced transferring patients from helicopters to fixed-wing aircraft during simulated crises. This involved UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters transporting patients to airstrips where C-130 crews were waiting to provide advanced medical care and transport to higher-level medical facilities. This integration of air and ground medical units enhances the overall resilience and responsiveness of military medical evacuation capabilities.
The success of such intensive training exercises hinges on robust maintenance and logistical support. The 302nd Airlift Wing’s maintenance crews played a vital role, ensuring that aircraft remained operational throughout the exercise’s increased tempo. “Maintenance came through for us in a lot of ways,” said Major Michael Hall, the lead C-130 air planner for Ivy Mass. This highlights the often-underappreciated yet critical role of maintenance personnel in achieving mission success.
As the military continues to evolve, such exercises like ivy mass will remain essential in ensuring operational readiness and inter-service cooperation, preparing U.S. forces for future conflicts. The lessons learned from Ivy Mass will undoubtedly influence future training and operational strategies, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive, integrated military exercises in maintaining national security and combat effectiveness.
