621st MSOS Teams Provide Critical Expertise for Department-Level Exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  

Members with the 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron deployed across Australia, Tinian, Guam, Japan and the state of Washington for the 2025 Department of the Air Force’s Department-Level Exercise series in July.

During the exercise, 621st MSOS teams provided critical airlift expertise and coordination to a diverse array of joint partners, including five Air Force fighter squadrons, I Corps, 11th Airborne Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and U.S. Army Pacific Command, at 9 locations across 4 countries in the Pacific. Efforts focused on optimizing airlift prioritization, synchronizing Joint force operations within the Air Operations Center, and enhancing ground cargo readiness for strategic airlift missions. Their activities encompassed instructing users on cargo preparation, facilitating headquarters integration, managing drop zone control, and executing an airborne jump during a joint forcible entry.

“Our integrated approach provides a comprehensive operational picture, extending beyond individual locations to encompass U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe, Africa Command, and U.S. Army North Command, down to the divisional level,” explained U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Staley, 621st MSOS commander. “This enhanced situational awareness informs AOC planning and execution, resulting in minimized inefficiencies and improved operational effectiveness.”

The 621st MSOS identified three key initiatives prior to DLE participation: establishing a standardized joint inspection program, expanding beyond line-of-sight communication capabilities, and identifying critical sustainment capabilities.

“Our teams analyzed tasking requirements and identified opportunities to exercise core mission essential tasks,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Lemon, 621st MSOS Operations Superintendent. “With defined learning objectives and requirements, we developed targeted training scenarios.”

The complex, global nature of the air mobility exercise presented inherent challenges, which served as catalysts for adaptation and innovation.

“Maintaining situational awareness and effectively communicating evolving requirements within our teams' areas of responsibility proved to be a significant challenge,” Lemon noted. “Our engagements spanned overlapping objectives across various joint partners with disparate mission requirements. Teams exercised mission command principles, balancing airlift prioritization with the need for validation from higher authorities regarding movement plans, despite limited visibility into the broader strategic context.”

To enhance preparedness for future conflicts, improved communication protocols are essential. Recognizing that key stakeholders may not always be readily accessible during real-time ground operations, teams practiced operating under mission-type orders, enabling independent execution when communication with higher headquarters was constrained.

“We empowered our partners to meet strategic objectives while capturing valuable lessons learned across multiple commands,” Lemon emphasized. “These exercises are instrumental in identifying process improvements across various levels of command."

The 621st MSOS provides critical command and control, logistics, and air mobility support, enabling rapid global force projection. The squadron operates from 20 locations, with four additional locations planned, spanning Europe to Asia, and maintains Air Mobility Liaison Officers at Army, Navy, and Marine headquarters worldwide.

“Serving within the Expeditionary Air Ground Liaison Element community has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” Lemon stated. “Recognizing that future conflicts will require integrated, multi-domain approaches, we provide the essential tools and understanding necessary for seamless joint operations, mitigating potential bottlenecks and enhancing overall effectiveness.”