C-27J Mission

CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga., June 29, 2011 -- When the C-27J Spartan cargo airplane was transferred from the Army to the Air Force, many wondered what would happen to the joint Army and Air Guard cargo transport mission. Now, in what is being touted as the first, and possibly only, joint Army and Air deployment of the Guard's C-27J program, crews from Georgia's Company H, 171st Aviation, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, along with Guardsmen from Ohio, Maryland and Oklahoma will leave together to conduct time-sensitive cargo delivery operations in Afghanistan next month.
When they and their aircraft will leave has yet to be announced.
"When the changeover [from Army to Air] happened, we never stopped training together," said Maj. Barry Simmons, Georgia's C-27J government flight representative. "Today, the program is stronger than ever, and we actually have Soldiers and Airmen flying side-by-side in the same aircraft, conducting the same missions with the same resources."
The Spartan was originally fielded to replace the C-23 Sherpa cargo plane used by the Army National Guard. The Sherpa will be retired in 2015 with no plans to replace the aircraft.
The crew for July's deployment is made up of Army and Air pilots and flight engineers from all four states. According to Simmons, the direct support mission in Afghanistan will be the first of its kind since 1946 -- flown by what was then the U.S. Army Air Corps -- with Army and Air Force aviators deploying an aircraft together, an assignment for which the Guard has been handpicked.
"National Guard aviation is often on the forefront of joint operations. We're used to sharing airspace and, sometimes, restrained resources," said Simmons. "I believe this deployment could give us a template for future joint cargo operations."
Without much precedent to go by, Simmons admits that the joint deployment will entail some new questions and frustrations, but he also acknowledges that opportunities to grow and learn while accomplishing the huge task of supporting the warfight will present themselves to the crews and the program as a whole. While the future of the C-27J's role in joint operations may be unclear, the Guardsmen on this mission are intent on making the mission a success.
"There's really so much work out there to be done -- more than any one service could do alone," Simmons said. "I see this deployment for the great opportunity it is: to get together, roll up our sleeves and, help the warfighter on the ground in the biggest way possible."
Story and photos by Pfc. Ashley Fontenot
Video by David Howell
Public Affairs Office
Georgia Department of Defense

[@Tuglife912]

That Alenia C-27J Spartan is an awesome Aircraft and looks like the little brother to our Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules! I'm glad the United States Coast Guard picked these up too.

[@domdegood5376]

Good all rounder.

[@michelesimmons9066]

The Army is actually so much better at fixed wing tactical missions than the Air Force. The AF is top heavy and inefficient for these missions. They can’t deliver. They can’t support our country’s mission because paper work is paramount to flying our troupes.

[@alwyn1949]

The Army needs to get out of the fixed wing business, period. Stick to helicopters, that's what they do best. Besides the AF may cancel the final production of the 17 aircraft and sell the remainder due to budget cuts.