XVIII Abn. Corps executes joint mission with sister services

By Spc. A.M. LaVey
XVIII Abn. Corps and Fort Bragg PAO

Photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Angelita M. Lawrence/1st Combat Camera Squadron Paratroopers wait to board a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft based at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., on the ramp at Pope Air Force Base during a joint forcible entry exercise Monday. More than 98 servicemembers performed an airborne insertion from the aircraft during JFEX, a three-day exercise conducted six times a year by Soldiers from Fort Bragg and Airmen at Pope AFB that is designed to enhance cohesion between the Army and Air Force through large-scale heavy equipment and troop movements.

America’s Contingency Corps, the XVIII Airborne Corps, together with partners from the National Guard, the U.S. Air Force and the Marine Corps, executed a Joint Forcible Entry Exercise here, which began Tuesday and ended today.

The JFEX, as it is known, is a series of training exercises that provide the XVIII Abn. Corps and multiple inter-service organizations the opportunity to train and rehearse their forcible entry capabilities.
“These exercises keep our capabilities sharp, both individually and as a staff,” said Lt. Col. Praxitelis N. Vamvakias, chief of future operations, XVIII Abn. Corps. “We are training to keep proficient at our warfighting function,” he said. “The joint aspect of this mission requires the participation of our sister services and the coordination with other government agencies.”

During this exercise, more than 2,000 paratroopers and their equipment were aerially dispatched 800 feet above Sicily Drop Zone, in a window of about 20 minutes. Following the jump, Soldiers conducted a simulated an airfield seizure and follow-on missions.

“The JFEX program is a vital and critical component to the XVIII Airborne Corps and the Army’s ability to rapidly and globally project combat power where our unique force and capability is required,” said Maj. Dave Perry, an XVIII Abn. Corps JFEX planner.

Forcible entry operations, the specialty of the airborne corps, are the quickest way to deliver troops and their resources into a restricted or hostile area of operation.

“This capability can be used in many different ways,” said Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, commanding general, XVIII Abn. Corps and Fort Bragg, “including humanitarian assistance and in other full spectrum operations.”

This JFEX was observed by local and state political leaders as well as scientists and engineers from the Defense Science Study Group, a group of educators from across the United States who are engaged in defense-related research.

Having distinguished visitors observe this type of training, lets them “know that America has this type of capability, because it is very important,” said Helmick. “Also very important is our link to the American people. When the American military loses its connection with the American people, we will have a problem.”

The XVIII Abn. Corps is the only corps headquarters organization that possesses the capability to instantly respond and deploy forces anywhere on the globe in response to a threat to our nation’s or allies’ interests.

“The JFEX program ensures that we remain razor sharp and prepared to meet America’s call,” said Perry. “This type of training will remain a priority for the XVIII Airborne Corps and we will continue to reach out to the Army and across the services to integrate these capabilities as part of our nation’s assets.”

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