McLAUGHLIN AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, W. Va. -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 23-004
Sept. 05, 2023
Press Release
130th Airlift Wing to Deploy for FLARE-V
McLAUGHLIN AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, W. Va. -- Around 400 Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing, Charleston, W.Va. will be deploying to Gulfport, Miss., on September 7th for the week long Fly Away Readiness Exercise Validation (FLARE-V).
A Readiness Exercise (RE) is a full-scale or functional exercise that provides a practical evaluation to validate unit readiness through performance-based observation of Mission Essential Tasks (METs), as tasked by a specific plan and reported on in the Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS). This exercise informs commanders of their units’ ability to generate, employ, and sustain their combat capability across the spectrum of warfare.
Earlier this year, the wing participated in a similar fly away exercise in preparation for FLARE-V. The upcoming exercise is a Readiness Exercise Validation (REV), where the Air Mobility Command (AMC) will independently assess, validate, and appropriately report wing and subordinate units’ readiness against their directed requirements.
FLARE-V 2023 will mark the unit’s second large-scale fly away exercise since converting to the C-130J model. In 2020, the 130th Airlift Wing was selected by the United States Air Force to receive eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft and transition aircrew, maintenance, and support personnel from the 1990s era H3-model to the new J-model.
“We are eager to participate in FLARE-V with the knowledge we acquired from our exercise earlier this year,” said Col. Bryan Preece, commander of the 130th Airlift Wing. “This will give us the opportunity to demonstrate that we are an agile and capable unit that's prepared to operate in a war time environment.”
The unit will receive hands-on experience in command & control, nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological, tactical combat casualty care, and career-field specific tasks. The exercise is intended to further unit readiness, not only in the physical sense, but also in the mental sense by testing the airmen's understanding of wartime principles against a simulated near peer adversary.
For additional inquiries please contact 130th Airlift Wing Public Affairs: 304.341.6249 or 130.aw.public.affairs@us.af.mil
Video FLARE-V:
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