Special Tactics Airmen and Green Berets from the 3rd and 20th Special Forces Group participated in Southern Strike 2020. The event was a large-scale, joint multinational combat exercise hosted by the Mississippi Air National Guard. This exercise provided special operators a unique training opportunity that provided tactical level training for the full spectrum conflict.

Exercise Scope. The time frame of the exercise was from January 30 to February 13, 2020. The Southern Strike exercise is a National Guard Bureau (NGB), Title 32 funded, tactical exercise program. The Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG) is comprised of military and civilian personnel with extensive SOF experience. The Mississippi National Guard hosts and supports this annual event.

Training Areas. The large-scale exercise took place in Mississippi at several military installations. Many of the primary (C2) events took place at the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Gulfport, Mississippi. Outlying locations provided many of the field training opportunities. These included Camp Shelby, Fort Morgan (AL), Camp McCain Training Center, and Naval Air Station Meridian.

Participating Units. More than 2,000 service members from 22 states – and some international participants as well – conducted missions designed to enhance their effectiveness. The participating air units came from diverse fields to include ISR, close air support, airlift (fixed and rotary), and Aeromedical Evacuation. Active duty, National Guard, Reserve units were all represented. The countries of Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, and the Netherlands all provided military personnel.

List of Units:

• 3rd Special Forces Group
• 20th Special Forces Group
• Dutch SOF
• Air Force Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST)
• 125th Special Tactics Squadron (STS) (ANG)
• 183rd Airlift Squadron
• 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment
• Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (Seabees)
• Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 60
• 49th Fighter Training Squadron
• 119th Wing
• 266th Range Squadron
• And many more . . .

Aircraft Participating:

• UH-60 Blackhawks
• CH-47 Chinooks
• Apaches
• T-38 Talons
• KC-135 Stratotanker
• A-10 Thunderbolt II
• B-1 Bomber
• MQ-9 Reaper
• MH-60R Seahawk

Exercise Features. The Southern Strike 2020 event featured counterinsurgency, air supremacy, close air support, en route casualty care, non-combatant evacuations, maritime and riverine special operations. In addition, staffs were provided the opportunity to further develop staff functions and procedures.

Photo: U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operators clear an objective at Fort Morgan, Alabama during Southern Strike. USAF photo by MSgt Jason Robertson, Feb 6, 2020.

SOF Ground Unit Training. Ground units from Special Tactics, 3rd Special Forces Group, and the 20th Special Forces Group conducted a variety of missions supported by air assets. COIN, Direct Action, Close Air Support, and other missions were exercised. There was a lot of air activity due to the huge role played by the air units. This afforded the SOF ground elements plenty of opportunities to conduct air infils, exfils, close air support calls for fire, helicopter hoist operations, and more.

Photo: A Tactical Air Control Party airman practices medical care on a simulated wounded person during Exercise Southern Strike 2020. USAF photo.

USAF SOST. A Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) was able to work with other SOF elements during the exercise. The training helps mitigate medical risk factors on deployments where the SOST may need to perform lifesaving surgeries and medical care en route to a Role 2 medical facility. The SOST provides four unique medical capabilities – advanced trauma resuscitation, tactical damage control surgery, post-op critical care, and critical care evacuation. [1]

MQ-9 Reapers. Remotely piloted vehicles were integrated into the exercise. One of the missions was flown from Gulfport up to Camp Shelby where it dropped a GPS guided inert bomb (GBU 38). The MQ-9s belong to the 119th Wing in Fargo, North Dakota. It is one of only five Launch and Recovery Elements (LRE) in the Air National Guard. The Reapers were launched by local controllers in Gulfport using “line of sight” takeoff. Once airborne the Reapers were handed off to pilots in Ohio’s Mission Control Element (MCE) in Springfield, Ohio. From there the aircraft is flown by the pilot using satellite architecture. The MQ-9 pilots work with JTACs on the ground for the missions. [2]

Photo: A U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 60 is refueled at a Forward Arming and Refueling Point during Southern Strike 2020 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Photo by USAF SSgt Trevor McBride, February 4, 2020.

Setting Up FARPs. One of the exercise events was the establishment of a Forward Arming and Refueling Point or FARP. The FARPs were used as temporary refueling sites for helicopters to refuel – extending the time and range that they can fly. FARPs were set up at Gulfport and Camp Shelby.

Ninth Iteration of Southern Strike. This year’s Southern Strike was the ninth iteration of the exercise. The event is an excellent opportunity for ground special operations teams to work closely with a variety of air platforms during training events.

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Videos:

Southern Strike 2020 – 3rd SFG Conducts Hoist Training, DVIDS, February 1, 2020, 1 minute. The SF soldiers rehearse medical evacuation procedures with a U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

Southern Strike 2020 – TACP Training Mission, DVIDS, February 4, 2020, 3 minutes. TACPs work with A-10 Thunderbolt II’s on the range.

References:

[1] “Special Tactics Airmen participate in Southern Strike 2020”, 24 SOW, February 11, 2020.

[2] “Flying the MQ-9. One of the Many Firsts at Southern Strike”, DVIDS, February 9, 2020.

[3] “All Systems Go”, JFH MS National Guard, February 11, 2020. A Senior Airman discusses the role of the MQ-9 Reaper in the Southern Strike 2020 exercise.

Top Photo: MH-60R Seahawk aircrew member, assigned to the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 60 out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida conducts live-fire close air support at Camp Shelby, Mississippi as part of Southern Strike 2020. USAF photo by SSgt Trevor McBride, February 4, 2020.

Military funeral honors were held for Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin, an Airman assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

Elchin was a Special Tactics Combat Controller who was killed in action when the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in Ghazni province, Afghanistan on November 27, 2018. He was deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Elchin deployed to Afghanistan in August 2018 and was embedded with an Army Green Beret team. His role was to advise the Ground Force Commander, direct close air support aircraft, and deliver destructive ordnance on enemy targets in support of offensive combat operations.

The 26th STS is part of the 720th Special Tactics Group, 24th Special Operations Wing of the U.S. Air Force. As a Special Tactics combat controller, Elchin was specially trained and equipped for immediate deployment into combat operations to conduct global access, precision strike, and personnel recovery operations. He was skilled in reconnaissance operations, air traffic control and terminal attack control operations.

Two Special Forces Soldiers – Captain Andrew Ross and SFC Eric Emond of the 3rd SFGA died in the incident. In addition, Army Sergeant Jason McClary died later at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany as a result of injuries sustained from the IED.

A number of senior members of the Air Force and special operations community attended the ceremony. The Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein, USSOCOM commander General Tony Thomas, AFSOC commander LTG Brad Webb, and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright were present.

“I implore you to honor Dylan’s service and sacrifice by picking up your sword and shield and continuing the righteous fight, that each one of us might make this world a better and safer place. Although heartbroken at the loss of Dylan, I am extremely proud of him, and every one of you as we carry on in defense of our great nation. Together we must continue the mission, honor his legacy, and never forget what Dylan gave that we might be free.”

Air Force Lieutenant Col. Gregory Walsh, 26th STS commander, in a letter addressed to Dylan’s teammates.

Webb presented Elchin’s next of kin with a flag folded by the casket team.

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Related News Stories:

“Til Valhalla: Special Tactics combat controller laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery”, U.S. Air Force, January 25, 2019. Twelve photos of the ceremony are available for viewing.

Video – This three minute long video provides highlights of the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery for Staff Sgt. Elchin. (DVIDS, Jan 24, 2019).

Photo: An Air Force bugler plays taps during the military funeral honors of Air Force Staff Sgt. Dylan Elchin, a Special Tactics combat controller assigned to the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, January 24, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Pick)

SOF News Update 20161226 – SOFCCC – the good and the bad, USSOCOM and WMD, MARSOC honored by museum, India SOF lagging behind other nations, NAVSCIATTS, Navy SEAL leaks meaning of Christmas, video of Norwegian SOF, special opns weathermen in HOA, and more.

SOFCCC – Good and Bad. Many of our Special Forces detachment commanders come from the conventional forces. Their first dose of special operational techniques and unconventional warfare comes from the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Before 2012 the SF officers used to attend the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course (MCCC) at Fort Benning, Georgia – a 22-week long course for Infantry and Armor officers. SF officers now attend the Special Operations Forces Captain’s Career Course (SOFCCC). This is a good thing. However, one detachment commander in 1st Special Forces Group thinks not. Read his article entitled “Lost Oportunities with a new SOF Career Course”, Small Wars Journal, December 23, 2016.

Norwegian SOF Video. Watch a 6 min long video (with music) depicting special operations forces of Norway in action and training. Norwegian Special Forces “Prepare for Tomorrow’s Threats, Today”, posted on Daily Motion.com.

Weapons of Mass Destruction and U.S. SOF. The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) will be taking a leading role in coordinating the U.S. military’s effort to counter weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The Washington Post, December 23, 2016.

India SOF Lagging Behind? According to one news report India’s special operations forces are lacking critical training and equipment. Daily Maiel, December 24, 2016.

DAGRE & SOLRS Demonstration. A party of high-ranking officers recently visited Hurlburt Field, Florida to observe presentations and demonstrations of the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron and the Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element (DAGRE). Read more in a news report by NWF Daily News, December 24, 2016.

NAVSCIATTS Class Graduates in Dec 2016. The Naval Special Warfare Group 4’s Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School located in Mississippi recently graduated 29 students from 11 countries. Read more in “NAVSCIATTS Graduates Class 17-1”, DVIDS, December 2, 2016.

Navy SEAL Reveals Secrets of Christmas. In yet another unsurprising turn of events we witness one more U.S. Navy SEAL attempt to mine the public’s thirst for more hero stories – at the risk of disclosing secrets. Read more in “Navy SEAL leaks true meaning of Christmas in new tell-all carol”, DuffelBlog, December 25, 2016.

SOF Weathermen? Hmmmm. It appears that the Air Force has special operations weathermen. Read more in “Weather Balloon Launched in the Horn of Africa”, DVIDS, December 8, 2016.

Air Commandos Conduct MOUT Training. A group of Air Commandos recently completed training in Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) at Camp Shelby, MS. Read more in a report by DVIDS, Nov 2016.

Air Force Special Tactics Memorial. A memorial to special tactics airmen has been established at Hurlburt Field, Florida. “The monument serves as recognition of the battle-hardened operators who defend our nation’s freedoms against tyranny and oppression”, DVIDS, October 20, 2016.

MARSOC Honored by Museum. The National Museum of the Marine Corps has honored Marine special operators with a display. Read more in Military Times, December 23, 2016.