Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 182nd AW Leads C-130 Hercules Operations at Air Defender 23 By Staff Sgt. Paul Helmig,
                182nd Airlift Wing
 WUNSTORF AIR BASE, Germany – The Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing is leading C-130 Hercules aircraft operations at the largest NATO multinational air forces redeployment exercise in history. Air Defender 2023 began June 12 and continues through June 23. The exercise integrates U.S. and allied air power to defend shared values while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world. According to the National Guard Bureau, approximately 2,600 U.S. Airmen and 100 aircraft from 42 states have descended on Western Europe to train with 24 allied and partner nations to enhance joint capabilities. Exercise AD23 provides opportunities to bolster the tactical interoperability skills of participating international partners, aircrew, and supporting elements within a composite air operation environment, according to NATO. A vital element of AD23 is the C-130 Hercules airlift, led by the 182nd AW. “Air Defender is testing NATO’s strength in deterrence,” said Maj. Joseph Chambers, the chief of tactics for the 182nd Operations Support Squadron and the lead C-130 Hercules at Wunstorf Air Base. “And the Air National Guard is reassuring our allies of the U.S. resolve to the NATO charter.” Over 440 Airmen from multiple states and Puerto Rico are serving at Wunstorf Air Base during AD23. The 182nd AW is sharing the sky with nine C-130 Hercules and Super Hercules units from Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming. Chambers began planning for AD23 in July. Though the C-130 mission is the primary objective at Wunstorf Air Base, it was not Chambers’s only aim for this exercise. “As the lead planner and lead C-130 unit, we had the job to coordinate for 12 different Air National Guard units,” said Chambers. “We also are supporting the Joint Tactical Air Control and Combat Communications missions at Air Defender 23.” Exercise AD23 will enable Airmen to apply their multicapable Airmen skills through interactive training with personnel from various wings and career fields, along with NATO and state-partner militaries. Airmen operating at Wunstorf Air Base integrated with airmen from Germany, Romania and Lithuania performing full-scale readiness training and completing their mission-essential tasks. A primary component of exercise AD23 is the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The SPP has been successfully building relations for 30 years and now includes 88 partnerships with 100 nations around the world. “Relationships in the ANG are like water to a fish; one can’t operate without the other,” said Col. Rusty Ballard, the commander of the 182nd AW and the C-130 detachment component commander during AD23 at Wunstorf Air Base. “The exchange of information, tactics, techniques, procedures, ideas and history will forever benefit the allied NATO countries involved in this massive exercise.” The SPP engagements capitalize on the MCA concept while enabling Air National Guardsmen to train and learn from partner nations. The Air National Guard’s focus is to prepare mission-ready Airmen to safeguard the U.S. homeland and execute global operations. U.S. Air Force units, including the 182nd, regularly participate in multinational exercises on the European continent to strengthen relations and resolve. That frequent interaction sets the stage, allowing stateside Air National Guard units to integrate with allies and partners throughout the region. The 182nd AW has been cited for multiple readiness awards. As a prominent leader in the C-130 community, Ballard was excited to bring the unit’s ready and postured forces to the warfighting training environment. “As soon as the 182nd found out about the exercise and its intent, we jumped on as the lead unit,” said Ballard. “The opportunity for the 182nd to showcase our capabilities amongst the community has been even better than I could have imagined.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
 More about Air Defender 2023.
 illinois Air National Guard
 Arkansas Air National Guard
 Delaware Air National Guard
 Georgia Air National Guard
 Kentucky Air National Guard
 Minnesota Air National Guard
 Missouri Air National Guard
 Nevada Air National Guard
 Texas Air National Guard
 Wyoming Air National Guard
 Air Defender 2023
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard
 State Partnership Program
 
 Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland
 By Master Sgt. Brian Ellison,
  Team Ramstein, Air National Guard, USA rotate through Poland
 By Staff Sgt. Megan Beatty,
  4 Air National Guard Locations Chosen for C-130J Upgrades
 By  Air Force News Service
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil