USAF’s Largest Contingency Response Exercise

Airmen from Travis AFB, Calif., wrapped up the largest self-contained contingency response exercise in service history on Sept. 19. The 11-day exercise, called Cerberus Strike, was hosted by airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Group at Travis and focused on landing zone assessment, airbase opening, integrated force protection, and rapid deployment of both contingency response and Army forces, according to an Oct. 2 release. The exercise took place at five locations in California and Colorado and included multiple aircraft, including C-17s from JB Lewis-McChord, Wash.; C-5s from Travis; and C-130Js from Little Rock AFB, Ark., and Dyess AFB, Texas. Soldiers from Fort Carson also participated.