Ninth AF begins Mission Readiness Exercise Published Dec. 11, 2018 By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Dick Ninth Air Force Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Ninth Air Force officially kicked off Mission Readiness Exercise 19-2 with a Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration Dec. 9. Ninth AF headquarters staff began with a warm start Dec. 2, while members from the 5th Combat Communications Group began setting up the forward location, or "tent city" Nov. 26. MRX 19-2 is an initial operational certification event designed to demonstrate Ninth Air Force’s ability to effectively plan, prepare, execute and assess Combined Joint Task Force operations at the operational level of war as tasked by the Air Force Chief of Staff.