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NEVATIM AIR FORCE BASE, Israel — “Nonstop, no-off position” is a common phrase used to describe the 435th Contingency Response Group, and these words held true as the group participated in a 10-day training and exercise mission here.
The CRG was one of numerous Ramstein units that participated in the exercise from Dec. 1 to 10 to help provide the 37th AS additional training and qualification opportunities on the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
“The CRG members are a core function for daily operations and coordination for logistics support,” said Maj. Leo Gage, 435th Air Mobility Squadron director of operations. “Our Airmen have the responsibility to establish airfield operations and assess the capabilities available for airfield operations at austere locations.”
While this is the second time the training has taken place in Israel, it was a first for the 37th AS and 435th CRG.
The CRG Airmen, formerly part of the 86th AW along with the 37th AS, recently became a part of one of the Air Force’s newest wings – the 435th AGOW, headquartered at Ramstein.
“Our wings have changed, but our relationships and support for flying operations remains the same,” the major said.
Most members for the mission arrived the day it began, but the 435th CRG were one of the few who arrived days earlier to make sure everything went smoothly for arriving Airmen.
“The 435th CRG is very essential to us here in Israel because it allows us to focus on our mission – flying,” said Maj. Bob May, 37th AS exercise planner.
“They do it all – from the deployment phase where they will come out to the site to make sure everything goes as planned, to monitoring personnel, taking care of
accountability and getting out daily reports to leadership. The CRG has helped tremendously here because whatever you need, they have it.”
Even though the training concentrated mostly on the flying mission, the 435th CRG was still able to gain much experience from the exercise.
“It is still an opportunity to see how compatible and in sync the CRG is to daily
operations,” Major Gage said.
Along with performing their mission, members of the CRG also value their jobs for allowing them to experience the world.
“The travel is the best part of my job,” said Staff Sgt. Lee Chambers, 435th AMS
contingency C2 controller.
Along with the experience of traveling, Major Gage recognized the ties the Air Force is building with Israel.
“This is an incredible opportunity to exercise with this host nation and further develop our relationship for future training,” he said.
Putting in long hours each day, the dedication of the 435th CRG shows through their actions.
“Even our shortest days are longer than most people work,” Sergeant Chambers said. “My shortest day was 13 hours, and I’ve worked days much longer than that.”
Working such long shifts together might be hard for some, but the 435th CRG makes it work out well.
“We have a great team,” Sergeant Chambers said. “We do work long hours, but you can bet the squadron commander is out there on the flightline driving the forklift. From the highest to the lowest ranking individual, everyone works as a team to get what needs to be done finished.”
But being “finished” is always a different definition for the CRG. Despite the end of the exercise here in Israel, it marks the beginning of more training for the CRG.
“After this mission, we are transitioning to the Operational Readiness Exercise the day after we return,” Major Gage added. “Again, we are nonstop, no off-position.”
