Base to host multinational exercise

Mountain Home Air Force Base is scheduled to host a multinational training exercise next week that will include German and Canadian military forces.

Mountain Roundup 2013 begins Monday and is expected to continue through Oct. 19.

The exercise here is held in conjunction with the German air force fighter weapons instructor course based at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The base hosts similar exercises on an annual basis, which serve as the final stage of training for these aircrews.

Visiting forces will include more than 300 German and Canadian military troops as well as members from the Republic of Singapore air force based at Mountain Home. The base will also host an additional 300 U.S. soldiers, airmen and Marines from installations across the United States.

The exercise will focus on integrating these military forces to conduct air and ground operations as one cohesive team, according to base officials.

Training missions will simulate ground operations, close-air support, urban combat, basic fighter maneuvers, counter air and multiple air-to-air scenarios.

Meanwhile, ground troops will conduct dozens of military convoys over the next three weeks.

In addition to the base's F-15E Strike Eagles and Singapore F-15SG aircraft, the exercise will include an additional 90 U.S. and NATO aircraft.

Among them are EA-18G Growlers, F-15C Eagles, GR-1 and GR-4 Tornados, F-16 Falcons, A-10 Warthogs, F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, KC-135 Stratotankers, KC-130 Hercules, B-1B Lancers as well as CH-60 and CH-64 helicopters.