Photo By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Miller | U.S. Air Force leadership from the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron poses for a...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Joint Pacific-Alaska Range Complex comprises approximately 120,000 square miles of airspace, providing a vast and realistic training environment where Red Flag-Alaska 26-1 tests responses to complex threat scenarios. Within this battlespace, command-and-control (C2) serves as the foundation of the exercise, transforming diverse forces into a cohesive, combat-effective team.
“We have a joint defense agreement with Canada,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Matthew Czyznik, an air battle manager assigned to the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. “C2 being a whole kind of sub-community, we want to make sure that we get everybody involved in our NORAD mission for the defense of America in general.”
As a participant in this iteration, the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron executes C2 operations while operating alongside officers from the Royal Canadian Air Force. This integration reflects a partnership rooted in operations at Tinker, where Canadian forces train with Airmen assigned to the 960th AACS.
“They’ve been knocking out a ton of evaluations and really making sure that the 960th as a whole can actually get up to the level we need to be when it’s our turn to go out the door,” said Czyznik. “So they’ve really been the continuity, as well as the training subject-matter experts, making sure we get all our people up to the requirements they need.”
This level of integration extends beyond the exercise itself. Canadian personnel contribute significantly to training and readiness, ensuring continuity across the 552nd Air Control Wing back at Tinker. With the Air Force Force Generation, or AFFORGEN, pivotal for deployment readiness, allied support has proven invaluable to Airman preparation.
“The success of RF-A would only have been possible with the assistance of these fine men and women,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jake Ivie, commander of the 960th AACS. “They have been instrumental in building the Viking crews in our ‘prepare’ phase, so we are ready to deploy in our available phase of the AFFORGEN cycle.”
That collaboration is evident throughout Red Flag-Alaska, which has long served as a platform for international engagement. Designed to replicate the complexities of potential Indo-Pacific scenarios, the exercise brings together U.S. forces, allies, and partners to operate under a unified framework, exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures while improving interoperability.
“Our allied partners from Canada and the United Kingdom are a force multiplier for the Airmen of the 552nd ACW. They are embedded into our daily operations at home station and serve in pivotal roles in the wing as aircrew,” said Ivie. “We take them with us on exercises and deployments as able, and rely heavily on them as professional aviators, instructors, and evaluators.”
Within the Red Flag environment, command-and-control structures are tested in real time, enabling leaders to direct assets effectively while maintaining a comprehensive picture of the battlespace. The seamless integration of allied C2 elements strengthens homeland defense and enhances operational capability across the Indo-Pacific.
“Red Flag-Alaska provided the invaluable experience of conducting distributed mission planning within a joint force environment against a scaling threat,” said RCAF Maj. James McGuigan, an air battle manager assigned to Canadian Detachment 552nd ACW. “This exposure allowed the detachment to improve mission readiness and increase interoperability across services and mission design systems.”
McGuigan, attached to the 960th AACS as an assistant director of operations, is one of 11 personnel in support of Red Flag Alaska 26-1. While recognizing the limitations imposed by national policies and authorities, the Canadian Detachment remains focused on delivering meaningful contributions across operations, training, and leadership, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to allied air power, bi-national integration, and global security.
“The ability to operate seamlessly with allies is critical to ensure the success of the complex missions presented at Red Flag-Alaska, which directly prepare personnel for the defense of the homeland,” said McGuigan. “The detachment is proud to represent Canada with professionalism and uphold a long-standing partnership, specifically the 46 years of integrated operations on the E-3G Sentry AWACS platform at Tinker AFB.”
Epitomizing our nation’s “peace through strength” strategy, Red Flag-Alaska reinforces deterrence by demonstrating readiness, integration, and unity of effort. Homeland defense begins far beyond U.S. borders, relying on multilateral operations conducted in unison with combatant commands and allied nations.
Through realistic, high-end training, the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron and its partners ensure they remain prepared to respond decisively and together.
“The 960th AACS is dedicated to providing world class command and control anytime, any place,” said Ivie. “We cannot do it without the help of our coalition partners from the north and across the Atlantic. They are family. Skal!”
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2026 18:21 |
| Story ID: | 564141 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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