An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 20, 2021

Air National Guard units support Formidable Shield exercise

By Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot, 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

PRESTWICK, Scotland – U.S. Air National Guard units from Iowa, Maine and Ohio are participating in the multinational missile defense exercise Formidable Shield 2021 in the United Kingdom this week.

Formidable Shield is a biennial live-fire exercise to test participating nations integrated air and missile defense systems using NATO command and control.

The maritime defense exercise, hosted by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th fleet and the British Royal Navy, covers a large geographical area but is based in the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense Hebrides Range in the Western Isles of Scotland.

Over 3,000 participants from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States are involved in the exercise that will conclude the first week of June. While concentrated in the United Kingdom, the various nations are operating from sea and land locations across Europe.

Three KC-135 air refueling units from Iowa’s 185th Air Refueling Wing, Maine’s 101st ARW and Ohio’s 121st ARW are supporting the exercise as part of U.S. Air Force and NATO air operations. The air refueling units conduct their air operations from the Glasgow Prestwick International airport in Prestwick, Scotland.

Maj. Noelle Jacobs, a pilot with Iowa’s 185th ARW, said staging the air refueling operations at the Prestwick airport also allows the refueling assets to be close to the exercise area of operation.

To prepare for the exercise, Jacobs said the wing brought a planeload of equipment and supplies ordinarily available when operating from a fully functioning military airbase.

“It is similar to setting up at a forward operating base,” Jacobs said.

While the objectives of the exercise are key, Jacobs said the opportunity to fly overseas and operate outside the home environment is great for new and veteran members of the aircrew.

“It is a very fluid environment,” Jacobs said. “For us, this is also an exercise in aviation management.”

The primary mission of the KC-135 is to provide air refueling support for the U.S. military and partner nation aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force has one permanent air refueling component in Europe, the 100th ARW at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. The 100th ARW provides air refueling support for the European and African areas of responsibility.

The National Guard refueling support during the exercise helps alleviate additional strain on the active component during large exercises like Formidable Shield. Jacobs said being part of the exercise also demonstrates how fully integrated the National Guard is as part of global operations of the U.S. Air Force.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Stoos, a boom operator with the185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa, trains to operate the Real Time Information in the Cockpit system on the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft during Exercise Northern Strike 24-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug 5, 2024.
Iowa Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Trains in Michigan
By Staff Sgt. Paul Helmig, | Aug. 8, 2024
ALPENA, Mich. - U.S. Airmen with the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa, trained to operate the Real Time Information in the Cockpit system on the KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft during Exercise Northern Strike 24-2 at...

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Kolby Gries, 185th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces, looks through the sights of a M240B machine gun at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center near Alpena, Michigan, July 11, 2024. Security Forces Airmen of the Iowa Air National Guard were training on air base ground defense, urban tactical operations, weapons and equipment, and security forces procedures.
Iowa Air National Guard Security Forces Train in Michigan
By Senior Airman Tylon Chapman, | July 16, 2024
ALPENA, Mich. - Through heat, humidity and rain, Security Forces Airmen of the Iowa Air National Guard are training at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan.The Iowa ANG members are in Michigan to hone their...

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Aaron Jacobson, a 185th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineering Squadron pavements and construction equipment specialist, picks up debris using a skid steer loader in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, June 29, 2024. Airmen of the 185th ARW and 132nd Wing helped clean up debris in the wake of historic flooding in Northwest Iowa.
Iowa Air Guard Helps Small Town Recover from Flooding
By Senior Airman Tylon Chapman, | July 2, 2024
SIOUX RAPIDS, Iowa - Iowa Air National Guard members converged on the small town of Sioux Rapids over the weekend, cleaning up debris to alleviate the effects of historic flooding.Eric Boge, a high school teacher, said he was...