Red Flag-Alaska wraps up

US Air Force,

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska: The second Red Flag-Alaska exercise of the year ended June 15 after two weeks of intense, air-combat training over Alaska's mountain ranges.

“I think this was a great exercise,” said Col. William Wignall, the Air Expeditionary Wing commander for the exercise. “The tactical problems presented by the Red Flag staff created an environment conducive to learning against a very capable threat.”

Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. forces and allies, provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment. More than 1,400 military members from the United States, Singapore and Australia sharpened their war-fighting skills in Red Flag-Alaska 07-2.

“The exercise is designed to increase the Air Force's ability to employ and operate anywhere, anytime with our joint and coalition partners,” Colonel Wignall said. “The Red Flag staff gave every participating unit an opportunity to plan, lead and debrief some of the most complex missions that you can find anywhere in the world against the most demanding threat replication in the air or on the ground.”

The exercise was conducted on the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex with air operations flown out of Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases. It included Air Force, Marine, Singapore and Australian military units organized as an air expeditionary wing here with a subordinate air expeditionary group at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Lt. Col. Eddie Osteen, the 353rd Combat Training Squadron commander and host squadron commander, said the teamwork by everybody involved made Red Flag-Alaska a success.

“A lot of very different units came together to make this a successful training event,” Colonel Osteen said. “We experienced some unique challenges during this exercise, both during our scenarios and with real-world events; operations, maintenance and combat support personnel worked very well together to overcome them. I know my staff has learned many lessons, and hopefully our participants walk away smarter and better prepared as well.”

Although no one was injured, the exercise did experience a major mishap when a mid-air collision occurred June 11 between an F-15C and an F-16C. The F-15C pilot ejected safely and the pilot of the F-16C returned his aircraft here and landed safely.

“Everyone who flies combat aircraft understands that what they do is inherently dangerous,” Colonel Wignall said. “Everyday a combat pilot will push it to the limit to obtain his mission objectives, whether in the training environment or in combat. Every day a pilot trains like the 'war starts tomorrow.'”

The accident did not affect the ability of participants to meet training objectives, according to the colonel.

“Although some units will focus on the individual mission results, the overall exercise objectives were met,” Colonel Wignall said.