F-15Cs assigned to Kadena Air Base, Japan flew into MCAS Futenma on Feb. 21 to refuel, rearm, and relaunch within 12 hours under the Agile Combat Employment concept.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cameron Schoppert, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew chief, left, Airman 1st Class Brody Graham, 44th AMU weapons load crew member, center, and Senior Airman Charles Sapp, 44th AMU weapons load crew member, right, prepare to rearm an F-15C Eagle during an Agile Combat Employment exercise Feb. 21, 2020, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan. Exercises that test our multi-capable Airmen and joint partners to provide munition loading and tactical refueling with minimal support are integral to employing precise ACE concept practices. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell)
The idea is to force the unit to operate out of an austere environment without an established support network with minimal manning and equipment.
This was accomplished with help from loadmasters assigned to 317th Airlift Wing.
