MAG-24 Marines train with Army, Air Force to rapidly repair damaged airfields
MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii — Sept. 14-17, 2026, service members from Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Marine Aircraft Group 24 trained with the Army’s 130th Engineer Brigade and the Air Force’s 647th Civil Engineer Squadron to sharpen the joint force's ability to rapidly repair damaged airfields. This joint training strengthened interoperability and readiness, enhancing the U.S. military's ability to operate in austere environments.
Runways are critical to aviation operations in any environment. During a crisis, the speed that repair crews respond can determine how quickly flight operations resume. This joint airfield damage repair (JADR) exercise involved a realistic scenario with service members assessing and repairing large craters simulating the kind of damage that may be encountered in contested environments. After assessing and clearing out the damaged areas, service members used a special form of rapid-setting cement to repair the simulated craters.
“This training impacts the Marine Corps in a lot of ways,” said 2nd Lt. Zachary Kolb, JADR officer in charge, with MWSS-174. “Working with partnered forces prepares us for future operations while giving the Marines a realistic exercise that covers all aspects of airfield damage repair.”
While technical proficiency was a key focus, the broader value was in standardizing the process across military branches and preparing participants for future operations. Participating units coordinated their efforts through a shared command post, emphasizing teamwork alongside technical proficiency. The joint structure enabled the services to align planning, streamline communications and synchronize their distinct technical procedures.
“It’s always a great experience working with different branches,” said Lance Cpl. Mark Rummel, a combat engineer, with MWSS-174. “It's eye-opening to learn how they operate and their unique strategy for getting the mission done.”
As the dust settled over Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Marines, soldiers and Airmen packed their gear with a clearer understanding of how their specialized capabilities support the joint force. By working together to solve complex logistical challenges, they refined a standardized approach to repairing damaged airfields giving commanders more reliable options to rapidly restore flight operations and project airpower from remote locations in contested environments.
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