Nine C-17 airlifters from JB Charleston, S.C., air-dropped pallets and paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in a massive joint-force deployment drill. “The exercise provided more than 500 operational and maintenance training objectives,” said Capt. Rob Cross of Charleston’s 437th Maintenance Squadron in an April 2 release. “The exercise let us practice Total Force integration on a whole new level,” he added. The mass airdrop on March 27, dubbed “Raging Moose,” gave Charleston’s 437th Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve Command’s associated 315th AW practice with close-formation flight and aerial refueling en-route to an “undisclosed” dropzone.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.