The whole goal of these giant JFEX exercises, which are put on by the USAF's Weapon School, is to put the school's prestigious students, along with external mission planners, aircrews, their machines and support elements to the test by attempting to prove the entire force's ability to synchronize large numbers of aircraft operations from bases separated by thousands of miles, then having these mixed fleets participate in large formations and 'access operations' in a high-threat environment. Beyond that, critical skills like the ability to deliver and extract combat forces from rough airstrips and by using various drop techniques under threat, proves that the USAF's tactical airlift abilities can work as a canopener on an enemy's territory.

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The 'joint' aspect of these training events also underlines the vast array of DoD capabilities that are brought to bear to make such an undertaking happen safely and successfully. For instance, up-to-date satellite imagery and intelligence has to be used to plan the assault. Fighter aircraft have to sweep the skies of enemy fighters and jamming aircraft and 'Wild Weasels" have to respond to enemy radar threats as they popup as the formations of transport aircraft interdict their way into the enemy's airspace. An AWACS may control the 'big picture' flow of air traffic over the battlespace but USAF combat controllers on the ground, supported by special forces teams, would control the terminal area around the airstrip itself, potentially while under simulated attack. Meanwhile, A-10s may provide armed over-watch of the operation, watching for enemy advances on the airstrip's perimeter. Communications, aerial refueling tracks, search and rescue assets, payloads, integration of large ground force units (this exercise it was the 82nd Airborne) and so many other elements need to be addressed as well. The reality is that it literally takes much more than a village to make something like what JFEX attempts to pull off happen, and ironing out any bugs during training is much less costly than doing it during real-life combat operations.

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Capt. Andy Miller, 29th Weapons Squadron and JFE 14B instructor states:

"Here at the Weapons School, we're able to instill in our students the tactical-level tools that will enable them to be successful in the future, in the planning and execution of a joint forcible entry. In this case, we're able to take a glimpse at both the operational and strategic level impacts of this capability."

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They say logistics wins wars, and in this day and age of emerging enemy anti-access/area denial capabilities and America's stumbling pivot toward the Pacific, this statement remains highly relevant. Future wars will be just as much about sustaining dispersed forces separated by great distances, and hitting the enemy where they least expect it with non-traditional attacks, than anything else. With exercises like JFEX, our air mobility forces can exercise the breadth of their capabilities while learning how to integrate with all the different elements that make such complex combat missions actually feasible. Finally, the very fact that America's military, including its air mobility forces, train to such a high a degree for combat operations works as a strong deterrent to would-be aggressors, and like other emerging expeditionary tactics, it makes them vulnerable in places they traditionally would never have thought of as being militarily accessible.

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Source and Photos: USAF

Tyler Rogoway is a defense journalist and photographer who maintains the website Foxtrot Alpha for Jalopnik.com You can reach Tyler with story ideas or direct comments regarding this or any other defense topic via the email address Tyler@Jalopnik.com