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      A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 726th Air Control Squadron scans the perimeter of the Mobile Operating Air Base (MOAB) during Hardrock Exercise 19-2, July 16, 2019, at Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho. The exercise was in a simulated deployed location where the base was built from the ground up and took control of the airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Kobialka)726th ACS builds leaders during readiness, rapid global mobility exercise
                        
                        
                        A 726th Air Control Squadron Airman scans the perimeter of the Mobile Operating Air Base during Hardrock Exercise 19-2, July 16, 2019, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The exercise simulated a deployed location where Airmen built the base from the ground up and took control of the airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Kobialka)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

726th ACS builds leaders during readiness, rapid global mobility exercisePublished July 22, 2019
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Andrew Kobialka
                    
                    
                    366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFNS) --**On the outskirts of Air Force base, a dirt road strays away from the comforts of civilization and deeper into the high desert. Luckily, the Air Force doesn’t need comfort or civilization to operate.The 726th Air Control Squadron refined its adaptive basing capabilities during Hardrock Exercise 19-2, July 9-19, at the Mobile Operating Air Base at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.The mission of the exercise was to train Airmen and build exceptional leaders in an unforgiving environment. This type of training develops skill sets necessary to enhance the readiness for the rapid global mobility of the 726th ACS.“This exercise was a bare-base operation,” explained Lt. Col. Richard Barber, 726th ACS commander. “This means that we were issued simulated deployment orders to set up a fully-operational MOAB from the ground up in less than 72 hours.”Getting to that point took a lot of preparation.The first step began with precisely packing up trucks with all equipment needed to set up a base.“We only have a short amount of time to become operational,” Barber said. “The Airmen proved that they can pack up quickly and accurately so that the mission can be accomplished anytime and anywhere.”The 726th ACS then coordinated a 2-hour convoy where they gained experience on how to handle situations like downed communications and secure routing, while still ensuring timely arrival of equipment and personnel.Once on site, the build-up phase began.Assembling a tactical operations center, TPS-75 radar system, satellite communications, entry control points, running ground wire and constructing tents are a few key components of making a viable base.Once fully operational, the 726th ACS put a strong emphasis on being self-sufficient.“We have Airmen conduct their own security as well as chemical warfare and ability to survive and operate training,” Barber said. “The 726th ACS Airmen are ready to handle any situation thrown at us.”Conducting this secondary training while simultaneously monitoring and controlling the airspace further increases the Airmen’s total flexibility for when they may need it most, Barber said.“Throughout the exercise, we have given leadership roles to some newer officers and noncommissioned officers to allow them to grow into the strong leaders we need for the future,” he said.Tech. Sgt. Joshua Kelly, 726th ACS civilian engineering section chief, is one of those strengthening his leadership skills.“There have been many lessons learned, but the exercise has gone smoothly,” Kelly said. “I’m proud of our Airmen who are proving to be resilient, flexible and teachable.”Barber explained how Airmen are making this exercise the most significant one yet.“The 726th ACS has enhanced their ability to rapidly deploy to any remote location and take command and control of the region,” Barber said. “We are ready to bring the sharpened spear and hurl it into combat, bringing order to chaos.”LR 



Mountain Home AFB 



ACC 



Air Combat Command 



726th ACS 



readiness 



Rapid Global Mobility 



leaders 



leadership 



training 



exercise 



AF 



Air Force 



Hardrock Exercise 



Adaptive basing 



MOAB 



Mobile Operating Air Base Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 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