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RF-Alaska 16-1 is an international aerial combat training exercise with participants from all over the world and throughout the Department of Defense.
"Each participating unit will get the chance to lead the planning and execution of at least one mission," said Air Force Lt. Col. Dylan Baumgartner, 364th Operations Group, Detachment 1 commander. "The focus of Red Flag is to provide aircrews their first 10 simulated combat missions in a realistic and demanding training environment, enhancing their lethality and survivability in future conflicts."
During the exercise, pilots and their supporting units shift into overdrive, working fast-paced, long hours for the duration of the exercise.
"We're operating about [5 a.m. to 11 p.m.], so a little over 18 hours a day, five days a week," said Air Force Maj. Ryan Donohoe, 354th Operations Group, Detachment 1 airlift operations lead planner.
On average, more than 1,000 personnel and up to 60 aircraft deploy to Eielson, and an additional 500 people and 40 aircraft deploy to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, for each RF-Alaska exercise.
"Eielson is where the majority of our participants are," Donahoe said. "But we work hand-in-hand with them around the clock."
By providing generic scenarios using common worldwide threats and simulated combat conditions, RED FLAG-A gives every participant an opportunity to make the tough calls often required in combat.
Another benefit of hosting RF-A at Eielson is the number of allied nations that can reach the training location conveniently.
"It's a unique opportunity that we've been able to work with the Indian Air Force," Donahoe said. "Bringing them in and working with our pacific partners has been very challenging, but very rewarding. We've learned a lot from each other and are continuing to enhance our operations together. Indonesia and Chile have working-level observers here to observe exercise planning and execution in anticipation of future participation in PACAF's premier air-combat training exercise."
Originally called COPE THUNDER, the exercise moved to Eielson in 1992 from Clark Air Base, Philippines, after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991. COPE THUNDER was re-designated RED FLAG-Alaska in 2006.
All RF-A exercises take place in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex with a total operating area of more than 67,000 square miles, roughly five times the size of the airspace available at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2016 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 198041 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, RED FLAG - Alaska 16-1 has arrived, by TSgt Kyle Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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