Air Force air mobility capabilities need to be ready and capable to handle anything, as Commander of Air Mobility Group, Air Commodore Bradley Clarke identified in his 2025 Commander's intent.
"We must be ready to deploy at any time, to anywhere, and to do what is asked of us," Air Commodore Clarke said.
"As individuals and as teams, we need to build the strength to persevere, the drive to succeed, and have the systems and processes in place to ensure we can operate effectively in demanding and degraded environments."
In March, 36 Squadron and their fleet of C-17 Globemaster IIIs took this task head-on through Exercise Moose Migration 25 (Ex MM25).
The aim was to operate a fully functioning forward operating base from RAAF Base Richmond, away from the comforts of home and the stability of the squadron's headquarters.
Commanding Officer 36 Squadron, Wing Commander Robert Krupinski, said the exercise gave his squadron the opportunity to test their skills and processes in an unfamiliar environment.
"Ex MM25 was a key internal force generation activity that allowed 36 Squadron to refine our planning and execution of agile operations while operating under extant command and control means," Wing Commander Krupinski said.
"Additionally, the exercise enabled a significant amount of integration with Richmond and Sydney-based squadrons and units."
'We must be ready to deploy at any time, to anywhere, and to do what is asked of us.'
While operating out of RAAF Base Richmond, 36 Squadron performed directed tasking both domestically and overseas, as well as raise, train and sustain activities - including low-level navigation, parachute serials and familiarisations with logistic support units and local cadet units.
The exercise also gave the squadron the opportunity to engage and operate alongside their air mobility counterparts: 37 Squadron's C-130J Hercules.
With rendezvous usually limited to major exercises, operating alongside the Richmond-based squadron enabled bilateral maintenance training in addition to logistics and personnel management exchanges.
Ex MM25 Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Michael Day said the success of the exercise and lessons learnt by leaders and personnel would contribute to future air mobility operations.
"While 36 Squadron acknowledges we can deploy a detachment to anywhere in the world at short notice, Moose Migration provided an excellent opportunity to improve a proven and robust system," Squadron Leader Day said.
"The team strived to develop procedures and policy while concurrently allowing corporate knowledge to flow to the next generation. Ex MM25 proved an extremely successful operation in further developing unit readiness and interoperability."
