A U.S. Army minesweeper connected to a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck is loaded onto a C-17 as part of a joint exercise at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Feb. 24, 2021. Exercise PATRIOT SANDS is an annual Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command exercise for Contingency Response Squadrons/Flights to train to deploy within 72 hours of tasking as a Contingency Response Element. A CRE is the front line of command and control, comprised of experienced airlift and operations personnel to manage, coordinate, and control air mobility assets.