TOP STORY >> Exercise: LRAFB prepares to sustain combat airlift

Story by Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor 

19th Airlift Wing 

Team Little Rock recently concluded a major accident response inspection on March 30 near Little Rock Air Force Base. 

The goal of the day-long exercise was to test the host unit’s capabilities of responding to an aircraft mishap. The event was evaluated by the 19th Airlift Wing Inspector General. 

During the exercise, a downed-aircraft tested emergency first responders. Items such as aircraft parts and simulated flare shells were arranged to replicate debris. 

“This was a total TLR exercise,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Julie Honeycutt, 19th Inspector General director of inspections. “All units from the 19th AW participated with the 314th and 189th Airlift Wings along with the 913th Airlift Group.” 

Two months of planning and coordination were necessary to prepare and ensure the success of the base-wide exercise. 

"The overall base response was excellent,” U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffery Clouse, 19th IG superintendent said. “Units responded with urgency and displayed an outstanding level of technical expertise. In the end, the base accomplished several exercise objectives and got an opportunity to work with our partners in a safe yet challenging environment.”

Testing the base’s capabilities not only promotes readiness but enhances local partnerships by integrating with other units. 

“The exercise will benefit the base by testing the dynamic command and control that is required when four different organizations are involved,” Honeycutt said. “Additionally, it gave people the opportunity to use equipment that they are trained on, but might not use on a day-to-day basis.” 

Little Rock AFB, assigned to Air Mobility Command, is known as the Home of Combat Airlift. Continuing to train and test the unit’s capabilities enhances the ability to provide combat airlift anywhere, anytime.