US Air Force Reserve Command Airmen and representatives from several US federal agencies came together at Macdill AFB, Florida, for a national contingency response exercise called Patriot Sands 2013 on 21-23 February 2013. By the end of the exercise, the combined team of Airmen and federal employees had generated twelve airlift missions, moved nearly 200 passengers, and airlifted 1,560 tons of cargo. A contingency response element from the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover ARB, Massachusetts, led the effort. A C-5B Galaxy, flown in with the Westover ARB contingency response element and more than 70,000 pounds of cargo, was also used for static loading. Airmen from several AFRC units also participated in the exercise.
