SouthCoast and Cape Cod Skies May Be Impacted By Operation Viking

If you see an increased number of military airplanes in the skies over the SouthCoast and Cape Cod for the next couple of weeks, there’s no need to panic.

From now until July 31, Operation Viking is taking place at Joint Base Cape Cod. Operation Viking is, according to a release, the only joint task force exercise in the continental United States. It is being conducted by the 360th Civil Affairs Brigade.

Operation Viking, which is in its second year, is described as “a high-intensity exercise including range training, mission-essential civil affairs training, and very ambitious airborne operations.”

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As a result, people should expect increased air traffic and noise in the area around Joint Base Cape Cod, and you may also see very large C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster aircraft as well as parachuters.

The idea behind Operation Viking is to give military members simulated deployment training, but also training different branches of the armed services to work together cohesively.

“One of the best ways to measure a unit’s combat readiness is not through metrics but through challenging and tough, realistic training,” said Lt. Col. Charles J. Scheck, commander, 412th CA Bn. “As we have seen in the past 20-plus years, to win decisively, the Army depends not only on its three compositions (Active, Reserve, National Guard) but on inter-service operations.”