Emerald Warrior pre-deployment training returns to Stennis International next month

March 1, 2015

Stennis International Airport will once again be among the locations used for pre-deployment training by more than 1,500 U.S. and partner nation special operations forces.

The annual Emerald Warrior exercise is scheduled for April 20-May 1 and will be conducted in the air and on the ground at Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base and Apalachicola in Florida; Camp Shelby and Stennis International Airport in Mississippi; Pelham Range in Alabama; and Melrose Range in New Mexico. Emerald Warrior is run by the Air Force Special Operations Command and is sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command to hone the air, ground and combat skills of conventional and special operations forces.  

The specialized training will include the insertion and withdrawal of personnel and equipment, personnel recovery operations, close air support and coordination of coalition support.

Emerald Warrior training uses lessons learned from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to provide combat-ready forces to commanders. It is the Department of Defense's only irregular warfare exercise that uses both live and virtual forces.

The live simulated flight portions of the exercise bring realistic integrated combat training to local and distant aircrews while minimizing costs.