Sen. Thad Cochran Praises Contributions of Camp Shelby, Stennis Space Center

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COCHRAN COMMENDS AFSOC ON TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF “EMERALD WARRIOR” EXERCISE

Defense Appropriations Chairman Praises Contributions of Camp Shelby, Stennis Space Center

Emerald Warrior visual information team videos:  http://bit.ly/2mbcY1W
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today commended the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) on the successful conclusion of exercise EMERALD WARRIOR, a comprehensive training exercise that focuses on irregular warfare to enhance the air and ground combat skills of U.S. special operations forces.

EMERALD WARRIOR is a two-week exercise hosted by AFSOC at Hurlburt Field, Fla.  The Stennis Space Center and Camp Shelby in Mississippi, in addition to ranges and airspace throughout other southeast states, were utilized during the exercise, which was completed recently.

“I commend the Air Force Special Operations Command on the completion of this very important exercise.  The commitment of the men and women of our special operations forces is important to our national security,” said Cochran, chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

“I am especially proud of the contributions of Mississippi’s facilities at Camp Shelby and the Stennis Space Center, which were a crucial part of this year’s successful exercise,” he said.

Led by the U.S. Air Force, participants involved all branches of the Department of Defense and forces from partner nations like France, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Training events at Stennis and Camp Shelby included live air-to-ground fire, airdrop of equipment and personnel, strategic reconnaissance, direct action missions and medical triage.  Of the 1,450 total participants in the exercise, over 100 special operators and support personnel in Mississippi contributed to this vital training.

A joint exercise, EMERALD WARRIOR is primarily air-centric with assets such as AC-130 gunships, AH-64 Apache helicopters and French airlift platforms conducting training.  Of the nine full-mission profiles conducted over the course of the exercise, six were completed at Camp Shelby ranges.

3/18/17