SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response
 
 
 
Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.
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Video by Tech. Sgt. John Hillier, Staff Sgt. Matthew Matlock
188th Wing UPAD continues to deliver Hurricane Florence support
188th Wing
Sept. 20, 2018 | 1:59
Since September 13, the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing Unclassified Processing, Assessment and Dissemination (UPAD) has provided critical information and analysis to aid Hurricane Florence relief efforts in both North and South Carolina.

The 188th Wing’s UPAD allows Airmen to rapidly analyze imagery from a variety of platforms, including satellites as well as manned or unmanned aircraft, and distribute tailored reports to meet mission requirements. The Airmen also have the ability to overlay post-incident imagery products and graphical overlays with pre-incident damage assessment products.

“Because UPAD analysts come from various Intelligence backgrounds, they have the skill sets to provide data, using analytical skills they already use during military operations,” said Capt. Joshua Westmoreland, UPAD officer in charge. “Our analysts are a mix of full-time and part-time Guardsmen, many of whom, like myself, have taken time from their civilian jobs and families to help fellow Americans in need.”

The 188th Wing’s UPAD is one of five sites across the Air National Guard that have been activated in response to the storm, and was the first to volunteer its capabilities. Since operations began on September 13, the analysts have produced over 360 products used by agencies on the ground to evaluate potential threats, including the closure of Interstate 40 in North Carolina.

“I-40 is a major corridor for that area.” said Master Sgt. Jeremy Gillingham, UPAD NCO in charge. “It’s important for people to know when they can safely go home.”

The UPAD previously activated in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in September 2017. 188th Airmen supplied more than 2800 information products including damage and debris assessments, evacuation route assessments, lines of communication assessments, vantage point assessments for air traffic control teams, and flood potential assessments. Those responses were in addition to the mission performed here every day accomplishing national military objectives around the globe.
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Air National Guardunclassifieddisaster responserelief effortsArkansas National Guardair forceRC-26satellite imageryIMAGERY ANALYSISmanned aircraftEbbing Air National Guard Base188th WingISRGUPADHurricane Florence
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What is happening where?

  • Italy
    ItalyParatroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
  • Finland

    FinlandThe Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

    Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.

  • Latvia

    Latvia

    In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .
    Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.  
  • Lithuania

    Lithuania

    In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.
    Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
    The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
  • Norway
    NorwayAs part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
    a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
    near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
     

    Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.

  • Sweden

    Sweden

    NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.

  • United Kingdom

    United KingdomTroops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.