Operational Lightning Fury

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew McGovern
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
SIERRA ARMY DEPOT, Calif. --  In its first real test as a full contingency response group, the 570th CRG deployed for Lightning Fury, a base standup field training exercise, from May 15 to Wednesday. 

This 10-day exercise was designed to develop the contingency response group’s “Open the Airbase” ability in an environment similar to Southwest Asia. 

More than 115 people, with job specialties ranging from security forces to aerial port, pulled together to form a fully operational air base. 

“The 570th CRG has been in existence for a little more than a year and this is really the first opportunity to go out and practice and train as a full CRG,” said Col. Timothy Grosz, 615th Contingency Response Wing commander. “Because of the various [job specialties], we have to practice and this is what we’re doing here.” 

Training included establishing instrument approach procedures with the help of the 570th CRG air traffic control and airfield systems team. The team quickly established initial ATC and were able to successfully flight check their tactical air navigational system as part of the exercise. 

“The exercise has required us to stretch the limits of our abilities, work harder than ever before and persevere through some trying times,” said Tech. Sgt. Gordon Miller, 570th CRG contingency air traffic control and air field systems noncommissioned officer in charge. “Our team of eight super troopers has proven that as daunting of a task as it is to build this ATC and airfield systems program from scratch, we are ready to bring it on.” 

The exercise was also developed to bring the 570th CRG together to learn the functions of other career fields and develop teamwork necessary to open an operational air base. 

“We need to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so we’ll be better prepared when we do it for real,” said Lt. Col. Shawn Farrow, 615th CRW safety chief. 

Various job specialty training and lessons learned during this exercise will help write Air Force Instructions for the contingency response group. 

“We’re creating as we go. When I met with General Handy right after I took command, he said, ‘Tim, you have a blank easel; it’s your opportunity to create an organization and the expertise to be able to go out there and operate.’ And we’ve been able to do that,” said Colonel Grosz. 

The 570th CRG has a 12-hour response time to provide support for contingencies such as the involvement they had with Hurricane Katrina. 

“The CRG is like the fire department, we are here in case you need us. Hopefully there are no wars, earthquakes or hurricanes and you won’t need us at all. If that time comes and there is a war or a natural disaster someplace in the world, we are ready to go,” said Colonel Grosz.