SMOKEX prepares Airmen for world-wide missions

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Nine units, 16 aircraft and a special tactics team came together here for an exercise to help prepare each other for combat operations world-wide recently.

This bi-annual exercise, hosted by the 325th Weapons Squadron, SMOKEX, kicked off May 11 and went through May 22 showing the capabilities and limitations of each unit as they worked jointly in one mission, providing Air Power in a confined airspace with enemy threats.

"This exercise is an excellent opportunity to prepare for the dynamic nature of the mission," said Maj. Sean Finnan, a C-130 weapons officer from the 29th Weapons Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ar. "Planning and flying with other assets in a relatively confined airspace while dealing with communications limitations and enemy threats is always a great learning experience.

"(This was an) awesome chance to integrate the C-17 and C-130 Joint Precision Airdrop System capability within the dynamic targeting mission," said Major Finnan. "Time-sensitive resupply is happening in theater, and it never hurts to spread that knowledge and experience to as many players as possible,"

With a B-2, A-10s from the 303rd Fighter Squadron, C-17s from McGuire AFB, N.J., C-130s from Little Rock AFB, Ar., an E-3 from Tinker AFB, Ok., an E-8 from Robbins AFB, Ga., KC-135s from Fairchild AFB, Wa., and a special tactics team from Pope AFB, N.C., participating in SMOKEX, opportunities to learn to work together were seemingly endless.

"It is also a tremendous chance for B-2, C-17, C-130 and KC-135 weapons instructor course students to integrate with other assets and see how their capabilities and limitations influence the overall mission," Major Finnan said.

This exercise was designed to enhance the proficiency of weapons school students in dynamic targeting operations. Over the course of a four hour window, students undergo every type of dynamic targeting they might encounter in real world operations, including combined air operations center directed tasking, Airborne Warning and Control System, Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, or Rivet Joint tasking, Airborne Forward Air Controller tasking, and Joint Terminal Area Controller tasking. These taskings range from calls for firepower for the B-2, to on-call air drop for the C-17 and C-130, to dynamic refueling operations for the KC-135.

"SMOKEX was a huge success," Lt. Col. Andrew Gebara, 325th WPS said. "The participants will put these lessons to good use in the coming months during combat operations throughout the world."