You might see more aircraft flying near JBLM this week and next. Here’s why
Residents living near Joint Base Lewis-McChord can expect to see and hear increased air traffic this week and next as the base’s 62nd Airlift Wing participates in a training exercise.
Exercise Rainier War 21B began Nov. 1 and will continue through Nov. 10. The 62nd Airlift Wing said the exercise includes processing and preparing personnel and cargo for a deployment, specialized fueling operations and other scenarios that test the base’s responses. The exercise will include multiple airlift and fighter assets as well as joint partners and special operations forces.
“It is designed to evaluate Team McChord’s ability to generate, employ and sustain combat forces in response to a deployment tasking,” 62nd Air Wing Commander Col. David Fazenbaker said. “Exercise Rainier War 21B is truly going to test our capabilities.”
During the exercise, personnel will operate in a contested, degraded and operationally limited environment, such as enemy disruption of the base’s communication capabilities. According to the release, that is meant to force Air Force personnel to adapt to changing conditions and find creative solutions.
“This iteration of Rainier War builds on the Agile Combat Employment lessons learned from the spring exercise,” said Maj. Brett Troutman, 62nd AW exercise director. “This time, we are actually demonstrating the Wing’s ability to project combat power into and integrate with Joint Forces throughout the Pacific theatre as we continue to develop ACE.”
Public queries or comments about noise or activities may be directed to the JBLM website or 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs at 253-982-5638.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
