1 - The Black Vault

PRAETORIAN STARSHIP
route surveys and airland operations into austere
landing strips. 114
The actual FTX began on 21 March and was
based on a full-scale joint/combined mission profile.
Events rehearsed during the work-up phase
were employed in a tactical scenario during the
FTX. VFA 98-1 was an excellent JCET for the
353d SOG and for the Australian and US special
operations participants. The opportunity to execute
multiple mission essential tasks with potential
customers provided outstanding preparation
for possible future contingencies. The 1st SOS
Combat Talon (88-0195) flew 57.8 hours during
the JCET and flew 12 out of the 20 days deployed.
The crew arrived back at Kadena AB on 30
March. 115
The squadron returned to Thailand during
the March–April time period for Exercise Balance
Torch 98-2. The JCET was based out of
Phitsanulok RTAB, Thailand, and was con -
ducted from 19 March to 9 April. The 1st SOS
deployed two MC-130H Combat Talons nonstop
from Kadena AB, with the first aircraft arriving
on 16 March with members of 1st Battalion, 1st
Special Forces Group, which was also stationed
on Okinawa. The second Combat Talon deployed
on 20 March. The primary objective of
the JCET was to support a military free fall
level-one certification course for the Thai army,
but additional drops and air intercept training
were also accomplished during the course of the
exercise. During the military free fall certification
course, 550 personnel were dropped from the
Combat Talons. Aircraft 88-0192 flew the bulk of
the missions because aircraft 88-1803 needed an
engine. The exercise was an excellent training
opportunity for all participants. 116
Perhaps the most interesting JCET of the year
was conducted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 25
March through 17 April and was named Balance
Magic 98-1 (BM 98-1). US special operations personnel
participated with 30 members of the Mongolian
Civil Defense Force in training events that
focused on enhancing Mongolian foreign internal
defense and the country’s disaster relief capabilities.
For the 1st SOS JCET support was broken
down into two periods, the first coming at the
start of the exercise and the second during a oneweek
period at exercise conclusion. The first Combat
Talon deployed to Ulaanbaatar on 25 March,
and the crew participated in opening ceremonies
the following day. On 27 March the aircraft returned
to Kadena AB. A second Combat Talon
deployed on 10 April and remained in Mongolia
flying exercise sorties until 18 April. BM 98-1
marked the first deployment of 353d SOG assets
to Mongolia, and the Combat Talon was well received
by host-nation participants. Although some
disconnects were inevitable, the JCET was an
overall success (fig. 55). 117
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Figure 55. Map of Mongolia (Source: AU Library, Maps and Charts Division, Maxwell AFB, Ala.)
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