FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A large-scale air assault exercise is to be conducted at Fort Campbell on December 1 at 11 p.m.

18 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, flown by 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division will move more than 150 soldiers and sling-load heavy equipment for the opening stages of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), multi-day, multi-state field training exercise.

The operation will continue through December 10 and include training at Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Muscatatuck Urban Training Center near Butlerville, Indiana.

3rd BCT “Rakkasan” soldiers will conduct simulated, high-intensity conflict combat operations at Fort Campbell. Simultaneously, soldiers will conduct an airfield seizure as well as simulated, high-intensity conflict combat operations at Fort Knox. Later in the exercise, soldiers will transition to Muscatatuck Urban Training Center to conduct operations involving a simulated chemical weapons facility and complex subterranean areas.

These exercises will test command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, as well as “Mission Command” systems and concepts.

“Winning in combat requires lethal squads and platoon, capably led by agile and adaptive leaders,” said Col. John P. Cogbill, commander of 3rd BCT, 101st Airborne Division. “This exercise will challenge the brigade by forcing us to conduct full spectrum operations over three geographically dispersed locations in three different states. We will exercise mission command – the exercise of authority and direction by the commander using mission orders to enable disciplined imitative within the commander’s intent, while facing a determined, free-thinking, and near-peer opposing force who will replicate potential future adversaries. Our focus is dominating the enemy in a decisive action, multi-domain environment that requires close cooperation with our enablers who bring unique capabilities to the fight. The “Rakkasans” have prepared for this event over the past year in countless training scenarios and we are excited to bring it all together and demonstrate that we are prepared to fight tonight.”