“The USAF must ensure the future force reflects the identity and attributes required for success in the high-end fight. Tomorrow’s Airmen must be organized, trained, and equipped to succeed in the most challenging and lethal combat scenarios since World War II.”
– Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Air Force Chief of Staff, CSAF Action Orders to Accelerate Change Across the Air Force.
SMOKY HILL AIR NATIONAL GUARD RANGE, Kan. — Military items from throughout the United States converged in Kansas in June for Exercise Gunslinger, a large-scale joint train designed to check air and floor fight capabilities in a contested setting. The two most important gamers within the train have been the U.S. Marine Reserves’ 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, and the Kansas Air National Guard’s 134th Air Control Squadron, assigned to the 184th Wing at McConnell Air Force Base.
For the Marines, the general mission was to follow Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, an idea just like the World War II island-hopping marketing campaign. The objective is to ascertain small bases of assist on island chains within the Indo-Pacific area.
The mission for the Kansas Air National Guard was to coach for Agile Combat Employment, an Air Force technique that requires Airmen to be able to execute missions shortly in unpredictable methods, reply quickly to enemy actions, and conduct operations with joint and coalition companions.
The major location for the train was Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range close to Salina, Kansas.
Idea to Implementation
The idea of Exercise Gunslinger started a few yr in the past when Air National Guard Lt. Col. Herman Norwood, former commander of the 134th ACS, and Marine Reserves Lt. Col. Nicholas Cruz, former operations officer, 4th MAW, have been discussing alternatives for joint coaching.
Norwood really helpful an train for summer time 2022 at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range. They named it Gunslinger as a hat tip to Kansas’ Wild West heritage, and as a reference to the quantity of bullets and rockets that may be used.
Both officers moved to new positions previous to the train, however the plan was in movement and their groups took it from there.
“We got together and talked about how ground-based command and control career fields weren’t necessarily getting the best training, we feel, that’s going to help for the next conflict that we go into,” stated Tech. Sgt. Hunter Thurston, weapons officer, 134th ACS. “It started out as a ground-based command and control exercise primarily supported by logistics and mobility, plus fighters and tankers.”
As the planning progressed, extra items noticed worth within the alternative to coach as a joint pressure. The goal shortly modified from ground-based command and management coaching to a large-scale pressure employment train.
“We’re not only getting good training for ground-based controllers, but also getting some value added for fighters, helicopters, logistics and mobility,” stated Thurston.
Controlling the Air Battle
When the train started in June, greater than 1,300 Marines from 11 coaching facilities throughout the U.S. deployed to a number of areas all through Kansas, together with Great Bend, Salina, Wichita, and Wilson Lake.
Operating from McConnell Air Force Base, the 134th ACS was the first ground-based management unit, talking instantly with aircrews to keep up all security, check-in/check-out procedures, and aerial refueling missions.
Marine personnel deployed a tactical operations heart close to Great Bend, offering capabilities just like the 134th ACS. Additionally, U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentries from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, offered command and management from the sky by means of airborne warning and management techniques.
The three command and management entities took turns advising aircrews throughout fight missions, figuring out pleasant forces and enemy threats.
“The first mission of the exercise was a defensive counter-air mission,” stated Thurston. “We were controlling all of the F-18s against the F-5 aggressors the Marines brought. The 134th was responsible for air-to-air control, giving picture calls of what the adversary formation looked like from an air perspective, and then giving safety point-outs as well as tactical air point-outs.”
Once the struggle was full, the fighters refueled and returned to Smoky Hill ANG Range for extra coaching.
Throughout the train, Marine floor forces coordinated air assaults, insertion and extraction, and medical evacuation missions with fighters and helicopters from the Air Force, Marines, and Army.
“Aircraft flew into our air space, hit the tankers, and engaged in air-to-air combat,” stated Maj. Scott Blechle, director of operations, Detachment 1, Smoky Hill ANG Range. “Once they were done with that portion, they flew down into the lower air space where Marine air controllers took over, handed them off to joint terminal attack controllers, and then JTACs started working close air support here on the range.”
Smoky Hill ANG Range
Smoky Hill ANG Range is the biggest and busiest weapons vary within the Air National Guard. The 34,000-acre vary is operated and maintained by 35 personnel assigned to Detachment 1 of the 184th Wing. Its operational air house stretches from Salina to western Kansas.
“There are so many unique training opportunities at Smoky Hill,” stated Thurston. “Their capabilities, with some of the threat emitters that they have, as well as the space for everything, is absolutely awesome for the state of Kansas.”
With lots of of floor targets, digital risk emitters, military-restricted air house, and a central location within the continental U.S., Smoky Hill ANG Range proved to be a perfect location for Gunslinger.
“The Marines were so impressed by the facilities at Smoky Hill, and how inexpensive it was to train there, that they’re already looking at doing future training events at the range,” stated Lt. Col. Joe Deeds, director of staff-Air, Kansas National Guard.
The personnel at Smoky Hill ANG Range labored day and night time to ensure the operations ran easily. They repaired roads broken throughout missions, extinguished grass fires, and reduce fireplace breaks. They additionally managed all of the scheduling for air property and floor actions to make sure the security of all train members.
“With all those different assets being out there, both in the air and the different ground entities, each one of those units has their own unique training goals,” stated Blechle. “They bring their ideas to us, and we piece all those things together. Between the Marines, Air Force, Army, and Navy, we make sure everything is deconflicted and create an environment that provides the training they need.”
Gunslinger’s Strategic Impact
Although Exercise Gunslinger started as a few squadrons eager to study from one another, it grew to one thing extra vital than the unique thought, and the impact of the coaching reaches far past state strains. The interoperability skilled by a number of navy branches and their respective reserve parts allowed personnel to construct relationships and mutual belief because the United States prepares for a brand new era of warfare.
“Exercise Gunslinger provided a unique opportunity for Air National Guard and Marine Reserves personnel to coordinate air operations with multi-service, and multiplatform aircrews,” stated Col. Jason Knobbe, commander, 184th Wing. “This joint exercise, which included active, Reserve, and Guard units from around the nation, showcased the talents and teamwork of the joint force and the capabilities of the 184th Wing, Team McConnell, and Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range.”
The video under was produce by U.S. Marine Reserves.
U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserves take part in Exercise Gunslinger 22 at Salina, Kansas June 24, 2022. Exercise Gunslinger 22 is a joint train with the Kansas National Guard, Air National Guard, and U.S. Marine Corps designed to extend plane management and coaching for potential actual world contingencies. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Ryan Schmid/ U.S. Marine Corps footage by Cpl. Ryan Schmid, Cpl. Jonathan Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Trystan Taft)
