DVIDS – News – Red Flag-Alaska 22-2 exercise draws to a close

As Crimson Flag-Alaska 22-2 attracts to an in depth after two weeks of continuous operations, the visiting squadrons at Eielson Air Power base have racked up hundreds of mixed flying hours for pilots and saved maintainers working across the clock to maintain greater than 40 fighter plane able to fly day after day with restricted services and provides.

Crimson Flag workout routines are designed to simulate a deployment to a contested surroundings, the place the battlefield technique calls for a excessive operations tempo and necessitates innovation, dedication, and teamwork to remain forward of ever-changing mission wants.

“Pilots, maintainers and help employees are standing a bit taller understanding that they got here right here to play and are going residence winners,” stated U.S. Air Power Col. Matthew Gaetke, 51st Operations Group commander and Crimson Flag-Alaska 22-2 flight commander. “Day one was tough, we pressed these individuals exhausting to take care of circumstances they weren’t used to, however with each sortie they discovered a bit extra and labored collectively a bit higher, and now within the ultimate days right here this joint-force staff is a well-oiled machine that retains making the mission occur it doesn’t matter what is thrown at them.”

The Joint Pacific Alaskan Vary Advanced is the best surroundings to coach aviators and floor personnel deployed fight techniques, with over 77,000 sq. miles of airspace and terrain to check particular person and sophisticated joint-engagement expertise, follow weapons utilization over three bomb ranges and floor coaching areas.

Whereas pilots flying fighter plane will be the tip of the spear for a joint-force staff, its maintainers that maintain that spear up excessive, as the continual excessive stress of flying these plane day after day will present put on and tear as elements break or security considerations develop that may floor an plane with out upkeep.

“For every pilot and plane, there are dozens of maintainers behind the scenes protecting that hen flying reliably,” stated U.S. Air Power Lt. Col. Scott Kubalek, 51st Munitions Squadron and Crimson Flag-Alaska 22-2 upkeep commander. “These pilots do superb work, however the maintainer Airmen working by the night time to repair a damaged Plane so it will probably fly the subsequent day are actual heroes.”

Eielson Air Power base has its personal mission of sustaining superior fifth technology strategic arctic air energy that’s separate from the Crimson Flag train and the visiting squadrons. Having to share restricted services and sources essential to maintain dozens of plane flying maneuvers every day creates a practical deployed state of affairs that necessitates innovation.

“That is the Agile Fight Employment in motion, proper right here at Crimson Flag,” Kubalek stated. “All the upkeep groups deliver instruments and elements with them, however you’ll be able to’t put together for every part which may go flawed. I’ve watched Air Power, Navy and Singapore crews all placing their heads collectively for a repair, be taught new methods from different branches, and supply specialist expertise to help one another as one staff, one mission and discover that interoperability to resolve issues.”

The purpose of Crimson Flag is studying as a staff, and whereas people could enhance from their train expertise, the aspiration is to forge ever higher capability and effectivity in coalition combating forces.

“It is a first-time expertise for most individuals,” Gaetke stated. “But leaving right here they are going to be Crimson Flag veterans, and that may set them aside for having the crucial expertise this train gives.”

The combating forces of the U.S. army and its joint-force companions have and proceed to put a excessive precedence on the protection and safety of the Indo-Pacific area. Crimson Flag has skilled bilateral forces for greater than 40 years to make sure the ability and deployable functionality of its forces stand able to face any problem, anytime, wherever.