Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Soldiers prepare for takeoff in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, on the flightline during Operation Viking at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Texas. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment participated in the air-landing exercise, which included setting up security, room clearing procedures and a mortar attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)Altus Airmen, National Guard participate in joint exercise
                        
                        
                        Soldiers prepare for takeoff in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, on the flightline during Operation Viking at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Texas. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment participated in the air-landing exercise, which included setting up security, room clearing procedures and a mortar attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Air Force Staff Sgt. Shaun Bowlin coaches Army Spc. Matthew Crisman on tightening the cargo hold chains, ensuring the cargo is secured properly on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, at Perrin Airfield, Texas. The aircrew from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, met with Soldiers from the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment, for a joint-force exercise. Bowlin is a loadmaster assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron and Crisman is an infantryman assigned to the 143rd IR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)Altus Airmen, National Guard participate in joint exercise
                        
                        
                        Air Force Staff Sgt. Shaun Bowlin coaches Army Spc. Matthew Crisman on tightening the cargo hold chains, ensuring the cargo is secured properly on an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, at Perrin Airfield, Texas. The aircrew from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, met with Soldiers from the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment, for a joint-force exercise. Bowlin is a loadmaster assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron and Crisman is an infantryman assigned to the 143rd IR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Soldiers prepare for takeoff in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, on the flightline during Operation Viking at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Texas. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment participated in the air-landing exercise, which included setting up security, room clearing procedures and a mortar attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)Altus Airmen, National Guard participate in joint exercise
                        
                        
                        Soldiers prepare for takeoff in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 27, 2015, on the flightline during Operation Viking at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Texas. Soldiers with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment participated in the air-landing exercise, which included setting up security, room clearing procedures and a mortar attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Altus Airmen, National Guard participate in joint exercisePublished April 1, 2015
                    
                    By Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee
                    
                    
                    97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
            **PERRIN AIRFIELD, Texas (AFNS) --**Airmen from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, participated in Operation Viking, a joint force exercise, on March 28.
Operation Viking allowed Airmen from Altus and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, and Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment, to conduct air landings to test their ability to rapidly deploy from Air Force aircraft and move into a full airfield seizure.
Army Lt. Col. Max Krupp, the battalion commander, said, "We are the only airborne battalion within the Army National Guard force structure and part of our mission is to conduct airfield seizures. This operation is a joint operation and there are lessons learned to help make it a better enterprise for future iterations."
The Soldiers worked with the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III loadmasters to load Humvees at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The Soldiers then boarded another C-17 and two Air Force C-130 Hercules.
After loading the aircraft with the vehicles and Soldiers, they were then transported to the airfield. The training included loading and unloading aircraft, security procedures, clearing buildings and simulated mortar attacks.
"Exercises like this help us get used to training in each other's environments," said Army Sgt. Ron Kapaun, a human resources NCO with the 143rd IR. "The closer we work together, the better we work as a team. We are training for something real. We fight like we train and we train like we fight."
The exercise gave the Soldiers a good understanding of the impact of joint operations on the mission's success.
"We have to have each other's backs," said Army Spc. Joseph McKaughan, an infantryman assigned to the 143rd IR. "The Air Force helps us get to our locations so we can execute the mission."
The loadmasters are required to perform airdrops and air landings annually. This requires them to work with the Army to keep this qualification.
"We are preparing for real-world operations," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chad Owens, a loadmaster assigned to the 58th Airlift Squadron. "The best part of the training is working with the Army guys, showing them what we do. This helps us be better prepared for joint operations in the future."
Training like this helps the Army and Air Force understand each other's capabilities and as a result, are better prepared for real-world scenarios.
"My unit is joint-force dependent. We cannot conduct our mission without the help from U.S. Air Force aircraft," Krupp said. "The resourcing and planning is where the real coordination and learning takes place and the real interoperability of joint training unveils itself. Our ability to do that with our partners from Altus and Little Rock was a huge benefit for all parties."Army National Guard 



joint 



Operation Viking 



Altus Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil