OCR Text |
Show HILLTOP TIMES HTIMES Aug. 9, 2012 Red Flag training enhances combat capabilitiy, international relations Multiple, dynamic scenarios find 388th FW working with Colombians, Israelis BY ANDREA V MASON 388th Fighter Wing Public Affairs H istory was made July 16-27 at Red Flag 12-4 when the 388th Fighter Wing trained alongside the Colombian Air Force during Colombia's first time exercising in Red Flag. During this historic event Colombia also became the 29th country to participate in Red Flag, which is often held biannually at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Colombian Air Force deployed beyond its borders with eight Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir multirole fighters, and Boeing 707/767 refueling tankers contributing combat power while participating in multiple large-force exercises during the two-week period. For pilots and maintainers around the globe, Red Flag provides world class, realistic air combat training that can't be acquired anywhere else. The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) serves as the aerial playground for war games during Red Flag. With more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land, the NTTR offers pilots and other aircrew a unique environment and terrain coupled with scenarios that are not possible elsewhere. The goal of the exercise is to train not only pilots, but every member of the team, from the U.S. Air Force, sister services and coalition air forces to operate, survive, and win together — even in the most demanding combat scenarios. This was Capt. Luke O'Sullivan's second Red Flag experience. The 421st Fighter Squadron pilot said this Red Flag was particularly robust and provided numerous opportunities to react to and train against threats in a joint environment with allies like the Columbians and United Arab Emirates. "Training at this level helps ensure we are prepared to achieve victory against any adversary," said O'Sullivan. The captain also said typical training sorties at home do not involve such a large variety of missions, the sheer number of aircraft, or even the mixture of airframes that each day at Red Flag AIRMAN 1ST CLASS DANIEL HUGHES/U.S. Air Force A three ship formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, participates in Red Flag 12-4 on July 20, over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The 421st FS prepares to deploy worldwide to conduct day/night air superiority and precision strike sorties employing laser-guided and inertially aided munitions during contingencies and combat. - provides. The 4-year veteran fighter pilot explained the exercise's daily events and how participants were given a different training scenario every day. Some of the missions they were given included attacking high value targets, dynamic targeting, traditional air-interdiction, defensive counter air and combat search and rescue. "As pilots, we often have to simulate visually identifying an adversary, but during Red Flag, we could realistically practice, since the Nellis aggressors are painted with a different scheme. This type of training is very valuable," he said. For the 388th FW, preparation for Red Flag began long before July 16. The wing started planning in March while deployed as part of a Theater Security Package in the Republic of Korea. "As the lead planner for the 388th Fighter Wing's deployment to Nellis Air Force Base, I saw first-hand how much effort and coordination is required to mobilize nearly 200 Airmen, 16 aircraft, maintenance equipment, and other supplies — it's definitely not an easy task," said O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan feels like this Red Flag exercise was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved. And he pointed out the fact that none of it could have been achieved without the efforts of the 388th FW maintainers that participated in this training exercise. "We really couldn't have done it without the maintainers covering such a wide fly-window that included weekends, nights, and extremely early mornings," he said. "Because of their dedication, hard work and expertise fixing aging aircraft, we successfully learned many lessons that were not within reach during normal day-to-day training. Ultimately, this has improved our combat capability and increased our overall effectiveness." For the maintainers, the feelings are mutual and Red Flag was deemed an overall success. "This exercise provides us an opportunity to practice for future deployments by working with various squadrons and identifying what personnel and equipment to bring, which takes a lot of planning and communication between units, said 2nd Lt. Ryan Kelly, from the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "Red Flag gave us good practice for when the real thing kicks off, and we practice like we play," he said. 775TH CES RETREAT WITH SCOUTS SENIOR AIRMAN LATANYA REID/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Doran folds the flag while Senior Airman Kendrick Wilburn (left ) and Airman 1st Class Bryan Pratt, all Hill AFB honor guardsmen, hold the flag in place at a retreat ceremony July 25 held at Building 1102 at Hill Air Force Base. Above and right, Service members salute the flag while it is lowered by the base honor guardsmen during a retreat ceremony July 25, at Hill. The retreat was held not only to mark the end of the duty day and show respect for the flag but also to show a group of Cub Scouts from the local area the military way of life. |