Joint training in South Mississippi

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Personnel from the 41st Aerial Port Squadron (APS) of Savannah, Ga., and other units from the Air Force, Army and Navy teamed up for GRIP III Breaking Barriers, a joint training exercise Jan. 5-7 at Keesler Air Force Base near Biloxi, Miss., and the Gulfport (Miss.)-based Combat Readiness Training Center’s (CRTC) Battlefield Airman Center. Reservists, guardsmen, civilians, and active-duty from the services worked side-by-side highlighting joint training efforts. Personnel from the 1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group of the CRTC provided UH-60 helicopters to ferry service members from Keesler to Gulfport simulating transportation between forward operating bases. The primary goal of the training was to give reservists and military members an opportunity to train with aircraft, personnel, and equipment that they don’t regularly encounter in everyday training. “So our guys need this kind of training to give them the chance to mimic what they might encounter downrange,” said Master Sgt. Steve Martin of the 41st APS. The Navy Special Boat Team 22 at Stennis Space Center, Miss., provided a Riverine command boat, rigid inflatable boats and trailers for the APS members to practice loading and off-loading. The 41st APS also worked alongside Mississippi Air National Guardsmen from the 186th APS at Key Field near Columbus, Miss., loading and off-loading vehicles onto a C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover AFB, Del. MNG helicopter mechanic supervisor Master Sgt. Vernon Dedeaux of Gulfport’s 1108th TASMG noted the importance of communication for these types of training, and working together in a deployed environment. (Source: 403rd Wing 01/09/18)