The 174th Assault Wing (ATKW) participated in Train Valiant Protect from Could 25 by means of June 20 at Andersen Air Power Base, Guam. Valiant Protect is a biennial joint area coaching train with a concentrate on integration of coaching in a blue-water atmosphere. This coaching permits real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces by detecting, finding, monitoring, and fascinating models at sea, within the air, on land, and in our on-line world in response to a spread of mission areas. The Valiant Protect collection started in 2006. Valiant Protect 2022 came about over a 12-day interval, and built-in Air Power, Military, Navy and Marine Corps belongings. This is able to mark the primary time in eight years that the 174th ATKW would take part within the train.
The 174th ATKW partnered with the 119th Wing from the North Dakota Air Nationwide Guard. Collectively they launched, flew, and recovered MQ-9 plane to offer data that was vital all through the train. The MQ-9 is crucial to offering consciousness, and with its in depth capabilities, the MQ-9 offers perception that another plane will not be in a position to. With the ability to get the MQ-9 from New York to Guam and again was an enormous accomplishment that made many members proud. Pilots and sensor operators from each models participated by flying the MQ-9 plane from floor management stations from bases situated throughout the continental United States.
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“Probably the most thrilling second that I had was after we truly made it to Guam,” mentioned Maj. Brian Hart, 108th Assault Squadron. “As a result of we put a variety of effort into that, and to see that it paid off by touchdown an plane in Guam. The truth that we had been in a position to truly get out to Guam and self deploy an MQ-9, that was particular.”
“The large factor is it’s the primary time that the MQ-9 has been within the Pacific to take part in an train of that magnitude in a joint atmosphere,” mentioned Lt Col. Lee Nietzel, Upkeep Squadron Commander. “The Navy was the supported command, so they’d the lead and everybody supported them of their efforts.”
Valiant Protect additionally marked the primary time that airmen from the 174th ATKW had been in a position to take part in an train like this. Most workouts are completed on the dwelling station, and with airmen having the ability to be part of this train means rather a lot. A lot of airmen from the operations squadron, in addition to the upkeep squadron had been in a position to get some on the job coaching in a location that wasn’t too acquainted. All the members loved their time in Guam. Spending time in a special location gave the airmen a special perspective on what it means to serve. Some airmen went on to say that being part of this train is among the most enjoyable issues they had been in a position to do all yr. The mixed effort of all branches that participated made train Valiant Protect 2022 successful.
