Logistical Excellence in Action: The Role of Strategic Airlift and Interoperability in Exercise Eagle Partner 24

YEREVAN, Armenia - A C-17 Globemaster III appeared in the air over Zvartnots International Airport, landed softly, and soon was rolling on the tarmac, following directions given by air traffic control employees. It stopped, and within five minutes, Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment started exiting the aircraft.

"It was a very cool experience; this is the first time I have ever seen a C-17, and I rode on it," says Spc. Skylar R. Morse, an indirect fire infantryman from Ghost Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd CR. "I was able to get into the cockpit and see the takeoff and the sky over Germany. It was beautiful."

The plane brought the second group of troops who will participate in Eagle Partner 24. This bilateral exercise aims to increase interoperability and improve participants' ability to conduct peacekeeping and stability operations and is taking place from July 15 to 24, 2024. The exercise lasts 10 days and take place in different locations across Armenia.

"Preparing for a bilateral military exercise requires a lot of resources, meticulous logistical planning, and innovative ideas," said Master Sgt. Jairo Aquino, an operations noncommissioned officer with U.S. Army Europe and Africa. "We need to transport troops, their equipment, and military vehicles such as Strykers and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. During the preparation, I saw how interoperability and cooperation worked among different units and military branches, and I am very satisfied with how everything turned out."

To bring troops and equipment to Armenia for Eagle Partner 24, the United States military utilized the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) program. "SAC is a consortium of 12 nations that pooled resources to purchase three C-17 Globemaster IIIs. All 12 nations share the capability of those C-17s," said Lt. Col. Brian Butler, a U.S. Air Force instructor pilot from the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW). "In the HAW, we are active-duty military members executing missions on behalf of SAC."

According to SAC's official page, HAW is a multinational unit of about 150 staff members based at Pápa Airbase, Hungary, and operates SAC's C-17s. All 12 member nations staff the HAW proportionally to their allocated annual flight hours, and all are represented in the military unit of the SAC. The member nations of SAC are the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and the Netherlands.

As soon as the troops left the tarmac, the C-17 opened its cargo bay, and the unloading started. It followed strict procedures, as the crew had limited time on the ground. Everyone knew exactly what they needed to do: put the chalk blocks under the tires, push containers, navigate forklifts, measure the correct distance for the cargo ramp stands, change the flooring, and more.

Butler continued, "Our standard time on the ground during a mission is 2 hours, but generally, it can be anywhere from 30 minutes. We can offload some cargo while our engines are running. We will open the back of the cargo ramp, offload whatever we have, and then quickly close back up."

According to Butler, this is SAC's first mission in Armenia. The same C-17 Globemaster III will fly to Armenia four times in the lead-up to Eagle Partner.

Armenia has been a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program since 1994, and exercise Eagle Partner serves to prepare Armenia to participate in bilateral peacekeeping operations and enhance interoperability between American and Armenian units.

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