Operation Northern Vigilance Strengthens Readiness

West Virginia Guard Strengthens Combat Readiness at Exercise

By Senior Master Sgt. Eugene Crist, West Virginia National Guard

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - To prepare for the future fight, the West Virginia Guard's 130th Airlift Wing successfully executed split-site operations Sept. 14-20 during Operation Northern Vigilance in Michigan.

The full-scale readiness exercise tested the wing's ability to employ Agile Combat Employment concepts by operating a forward-deployed element in Michigan while maintaining command and control from the Wing Operations Center in Charleston. The 130 Airlift Wing, or AW, is based at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, West Virginia.

"We wanted to ensure every unit got exactly what they needed out of this exercise, so we empowered the squadrons to drive their own tactical objectives," said Lt. Col. Robert Mills, 130th Mission Support Group deputy commander and forward element exercise commander. "Balancing those specialized, unit-level goals with our broader wing-wide priorities - such as completing physical fitness assessments and unmanned aircraft systems awareness training - ensures our Airmen are tactically, physically and mentally prepared for the modern threat landscape."

A major focus of preparing for that modern threat landscape involved comprehensive unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, training. Beyond classroom instruction focused on threat awareness and counter-UAS strategies, Airmen faced the evolving hazard firsthand. The exercise's white cell deployed drones over the forward location to simulate ordnance-carrying enemy UASs, forcing personnel to identify the threat quickly, sound the alarm and execute immediate base defense and cover procedures during mock attacks.

In addition to these tactical events, the unit capitalized on the off-station time to conduct annual physical fitness assessments. Administering physical fitness tests during the temporary deployment allowed dozens of Airmen to meet their fundamental readiness requirements while proving the wing can sustain standard administrative functions even in an austere, forward environment.

Throughout the week, the forward element operated under a simulated contested, degraded and operationally limited environment. These exercise injects pushed Airmen to their limits, forcing them to step outside their primary career fields to respond to threats and sustain operations.

"Compared to a traditional drill, I went from fixing printers and laptops to firing a weapon and experiencing what Security Forces goes through," said Staff Sgt. Gabe Garrison, a member of the 130th Communications Flight. "It has genuinely been a useful experience. It's the kind of training we wouldn't get any other time, and I'm just elated with the opportunity."

Logistics, medical and maintenance personnel also faced high-pressure scenarios requiring rapid problem-solving and cross-utilization of skills to keep aircraft flying and personnel safe.

"It's been great being out here and seeing what the other maintainers do, since we don't interact with the other shops as much during a normal drill," said Airman 1st Class Solomon Stoll, an avionics technician with the 130th Maintenance Group. "As an avionics tech, I've been working with crew chiefs. It is really neat getting to see the Multi-Capable Airman concept in action."

The wing's adaptability was put to the ultimate test when a real-world emergency interrupted the training environment. An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing crashed in Traverse City, Michigan. While the pilot ejected safely, defenders from the 130th Security Forces Squadron operating out of the training center rapidly pivoted from the exercise to provide critical security and site control at the crash scene.

"The true measure of this exercise's success isn't just in the planning, but in the incredible flexibility our Airmen showed on the ground," said Col. Chris Croson, 130th Mission Support Group commander and exercise evaluator. "Whether they were dealing with simulated contested scenarios or pivoting to handle real-world events, our Airmen seamlessly adapted at every turn. I could not be more proud of how the 130th AW executed this mission and proved our capability to fight and win from anywhere."

By successfully establishing and sustaining the forward location before safely redeploying to West Virginia, the 130th Airlift Wing proved its ability to rapidly project power, ensuring its Airmen remain ready to answer the nation's call anywhere, at any time.