RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) —
The U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade joined forces with the 37th Airlift Squadron (AS) to conduct a rapid deployment exercise of personnel and equipment on January 20.
“This joint exercise by the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 86th Airlift Wing demonstrates that the 173rd Airborne Brigade can rapidly deploy from anywhere to meet our Army Contingency Response Force mission in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Josh Brown, 1-91 CAV Commander.
As part of the Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade can rapidly deploy to conduct contingency operations in Europe, Africa, and Asia. To do this well, both organizations coordinate regularly to conduct these deployment readiness exercises.
Since August 2020, the 173rd Airborne Brigade has expanded its responsibilities, aligning with the U.S Army Southern European Task Force – Africa, and gained expanded alert requirements supporting U.S. Africa Command in addition to U.S. European Command.
“The 1-91 Cavalry is a rapidly deployable, Airborne Cavalry Squadron responsible for maintaining a cohesive, combat-ready, Army Contingency Response Force,” Brown said.
Strengthening interoperability, the 173rd Airborne worked seamlessly with the 37th AS and 86th Airlift Wing air and ground assets to further enhance their training and mission capabilities.
“As the primary C-130J Super Hercules aircraft lift asset in Germany and Italy, the 37th AS and the 173rd Airborne maintain a strong working relationship in support of fixed-wing air support,” Brown said. “Our professional and personal relationships bolster the combat readiness of the 173rd, allowing us to provide a critical capability as Europe and Africa’s emergency responders.”
The 173rd Airborne Brigade and their joint partners in the 37th AS routinely conduct deployment readiness exercises from both Germany and Italy into numerous drop zones in Europe. Exercises like this set the foundation for expanding the joint capability to deploy both Airborne and Stryker capabilities anywhere in support of EUCOM, AFRICOM, and U.S. Central Command priorities.