JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. —
Approximately 15 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings are scheduled to provide airdrop support for the U.S. Army's 509th Infantry Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana, May 22.
The C-17 aircraft are scheduled to take-off from Joint Base Charleston to conduct an integrated large formation readiness exercise supporting the 509th Infantry Regiment's personnel and heavy equipment airdrops over Fort Polk, Louisiana.
"Our Rapid Global Mobility force is a partnership between active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian workforces, working together to execute the air mobility mission around the world," said Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander. "Our Mobility Airmen enable the joint fight. Without our critical capabilities, combatant commanders would not be able to rapidly get the right people and equipment to the right place and time."
The C-17s are scheduled to depart JB Charleston and fly over the Cooper River Bridge from the South at 12:43 p.m. and then along with two, F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, will fly over the State House in Columbia at 1:30 p.m. en route to Fort Polk, Louisiana, where they will conduct airdrops and low-level tactical training.
Paratroopers and critical equipment will be dropped to simulate a joint forcible entry of the global response force.
The community is encouraged to post their photos on social media of the flyover and use the hashtag #SCAirpower!
The exercise has been coordinated with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and should not delay regularly scheduled flights at Charleston International Airport.
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