Kicking off CrossTell 2018

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rose M. Lust
  • 141st Air Refueling Wing

Guardsmen from the 141st Air Refueling Wing flew to the western skies of Oregon to support F-16D Fighting Falcons from the 162nd Fighter Wing and F-15A Eagles from the 142nd Fighter Wing participating in Aerospace Control Alert CrossTell 2018, a live-fly training exercise out of the Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., July 24-26.

Each day, a tanker from Fairchild refueled the fighters who were conducting training on airborne intercept scenarios involving Civil Air Patrol aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard rotary-wing air intercept unit.

The exercise consisted of running through various training scenarios in which the fighters and U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 helicopters intercepted Civil Air Patrol aircraft acting as violators flying into restricted airspace and safely escorting them into unrestricted flying areas.

“We train these scenarios often; we need to be prepared for any threat to U.S. airspace sovereignty,” said Col. Brett Bosselman, commander of the 225th Air Defense Squadron. “We also understand the importance and value any experience that gives us more insight into the unique language and operational capabilities and limitations of our partners in the airspace defense arena.  This week has been a tremendous success and a great learning experience for our people.”

Exercise participants included Air National Guard F-15 Eagles and aircrew from the 142nd Fighter Wing, Portland Air National Guard, Oregon; F-16D Fighting Falcons and aircrews from the 162nd Fighter Wing, Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona; air battle managers and personnel from the Western Air Defense Sector, 225th Air Defense Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin aircrews from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey; NORAD personnel, flying a Cessna 182, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; representatives from Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) and support aircraft and crews from the Civil Air Patrol flying Cessna 182s, performing duties in their Air Force Auxiliary role; and the 141st Air Refueling Wing.