MANG first drop at Malmstrom

A C-130 Hercules transport from the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, deploys a 15-pound sandbag connected to a five-foot parachute Dec. 17, 2015 at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., to simulate an equipment drop. The exercise was the unit’s first use of the Charging Charlie training drop zone at Malmstrom, a cost-saving alternative for the 120th AW to its other training sites several hours away from Great Falls, Mont. The new drop zone was opened through a partnership between the 341st Missile Wing, the host unit at Malmstrom, and the 120th AW and reflects the total force initiative between the Air Force’s active duty and reserve components. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Collin Schmidt)

MANG first drop at Malmstrom

Drop zone

150722-Z-UJ603-134.jpg-A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing of the Montana Air National Guard deploys a training cargo load consisting of a small sandbag connected to a parachute onto an unused runway at the Great Falls International Airport July 22, 2015. (Montana Air National Guard photo/Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson)

First MANG drops at Malmstrom successful

Published Dec. 18, 2015
By John Turner
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Two C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Montana Air National Guard successfully dropped weighted parachutes onto a drop zone at Malmstrom Air Force Base Thursday, inaugurating a new training site for the 120th Airlift Wing.

Reopening the Charging Charlie drop zone, originally established more than ten years ago for Malmstrom's 819th RED HORSE squadron, is a cost-saving alternative for the 120th AW to other training sites around the state.

The Dec. 17 flyovers were the unit's first use of the drop zone and reflect the total force initiative between the active duty and reserve components. The 120th AW partnered with Air Force Global Strike Command's 341st Missile Wing, the host unit at Malmstrom, and the 582nd Helicopter Group operating from the flight line here. Both active duty units are assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command's 20th Air Force.

The additional training site will aid the 120th AW with completing its conversion to the C-130 next year and preparation for deployment.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. two gray transports approached the base from the north with ramps down for the first of two low-altitude runs. As the aircraft passed over the drop zone in tandem, a small 15-pound sandbag connected to a five-foot parachute simulating an equipment drop fell from each C-130 and floated down onto a snow-covered grass field pre-marked and surveyed next to Malmstrom's closed runway.

The aircraft then circled around and repeated the exercise, this time simulating a paratroop drop from the aircrafts' side doors.

Leadership from both the Montana Air National Guard and Malmstrom watched the drops.

"This is how the Air Force is supposed to work," said Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st MW commander. "This maximizes the combat capability we get while minimizing the cost to the American taxpayers."

Ground personnel from the 120th AW were at the drop zone to communicate with the pilots and ensure the exercise was safe.

"This is a great opportunity to show the Malmstrom community a different mission set in the Air Force," said Col. Lee Smith, 120th AW commander. "The crews did a great job and the drop scores reflect that. We're extremely pleased."

The 120th AW is headquartered seven miles from Malmstrom at Great Falls International Airport in Great Falls, Montana. Using the active duty base for training drops instead of sites at Helena and Townsend, Montana, will save man hours and equipment wear for the unit while reducing travel risk for support personnel. The drop zone at Malmstrom also provides greater capability than using the training drop zone at GFIA.

"We're using what we have right here in Great Falls," Wilcox said. "We've got a great relationship between the active duty at Malmstrom AFB, the 120th AW and the community of Great Falls. This further solidifies that and meshes our operations to provide the state of Montana and the United States the best capability."