MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Annually since 1975, the lone sounds of various domestic and foreign aircraft have echoed over the Nevada Test and Training Range’s skies during Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
From Aug. 16 – Aug. 25, these assets showcased their capabilities again in Red Flag 16-4, this year’s fourth installment of the air-to-air combat training exercise. During the two-week exercise, the aircrew’s flight readiness was tested, focused on defensive and offensive counter air attacks, strategic attacks and personnel recovery.
“The most important thing about Red Flag is getting a large force together and integrating [U.S. and allied nations] into a mission package against a simulated enemy in the air and on the ground,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Barrera, 23d Wing vice commander and acting Red Flag 16-4 Air Expeditionary Wing commander.
“But Red Flag is more than just air-combat training, it’s about the U.S. and allied nations coming together as a coalition to integrate into a large force exercise,” Barrera added.
“There were a lot of aircraft, energy and coordination required to do this safely and successfully complete the scenarios we faced,” Barrera added. “We can get some of this combat training done at [our individual bases], but Red Flag offers a bigger area to train in and an environment to fully integrate.”
Each day was designed to build on the successes and setbacks of the previous flight missions to build stronger coalition capabilities.
“The complexity and difficulty of the scenarios we faced made us come together quickly to solve and follow a safe, coordinated plan, which worked out well. Everyone was professional and ready to fly. I really enjoyed my role of being the [Air Expeditionary] Wing commander by bringing all the allied nations together to build plans and [relationships.]”
“Although many nations came from countries with a different language, we all spoke English and learned how each of our counterparts used tactics,” Barrera added.
According to Lt. Col. Michael Thompson, 71st Rescue Squadron director of operations, learning these different and new tactics was a great opportunity for the 71st RQS aircrews.
“We work in a coalition environment deployed every day, but don’t have the chance to really build relationships and learn from each other the way one can at Red Flag,” said Thompson. “Flying with our allies in the simulated high-threat environment that Red Flag presents allowed our crews to integrate with the large combat force as well as advocate our rescue capabilities on the world stage.
“Tactically, the most beneficial piece of working with our allies was for each of us to better understand the other and what we can do for each other when we employ together.”
Barrera added that Red Flag’s ability to integrate the coalition to improve capabilities helped successfully build lasting partnerships, which made the exercise even more enjoyable.
“Seeing the smiles on all the aircrew’s faces when they came back from flying missions made it a great experience,” said Barrera. “Seeing everyone’s enthusiasm and working with all the nations was the best part. The chance to communicate with everyone and use our differences to make commonalities helped our objectives on how to move forward internationally. I learned and relearned a lot. It was great to be a part of this experience.”