GSL participates in JOAX 13-03

Published Aug. 2, 2013
A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to depart the Holland drop zone with paratroopers assigned to the 82 nd Airborne Division during Joint Operational Access Exercise (JOAX) 13-03, at Fort Bragg, N.C., June 27, 2013. JOAX is designed to enhance cohesiveness between U.S. Army, Air Force and allied personnel, allowing the services an opportunity to properly execute large-scale heavy equipment and troop movement.

A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to depart the Holland drop zone with paratroopers assigned to the 82 nd Airborne Division during Joint Operational Access Exercise (JOAX) 13-03, at Fort Bragg, N.C., June 27, 2013. JOAX is designed to enhance cohesiveness between U.S. Army, Air Force and allied personnel, allowing the services an opportunity to properly execute large-scale heavy equipment and troop movement.

FORT BRAGG, N.C.—ERDC Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) researchers participated in Joint Operational Access Exercise (JOAX) 13-03 at Fort Bragg, N.C., a seven-day integrated effort between the 82nd Airborne Division and its Air Force partners.

The June 26-29 exercise synchronized the planning and execution of a large-scale deployment of a Global Response Force into a hostile area, securing sufficient freedom of movement while facing anti-access and area-denial capabilities of our enemy. This activity is in direct support of the mission-critical fielding of force protection products to deploying forces.

For this event, a GSL team delivered a presentation of emerging Modular Protective System (MPS) technologies and provided hands-on Soldier training for proper installation and recovery of MPS walls. Additionally, the team demonstrated the passive force protection capabilities of the system for protection of small-base critical assets, such as the Defense Tactical Operations Center.

The event was attended by 82nd Airborne Division leadership, including the Commanding General and the Deputy Commanding General for Operations.