Red Flag-Alaska force exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Red Flag-Alaska provides a unique experience for participants of the field training exercise to practice a simulated-combat environment.

Members of United Kingdom's Royal Air Force were invited to participate in Red Flag-Alaska 09-3 at Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases to train over the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex.

There are 23 squadrons here in participation with Red Flag-Alaska, said RAF Squadron Leader Ade Pickup, AWACS pilot.

"We're very happy to be here.

"This is one of the only opportunities we get to actually practice warfighting," said Pickup. "We have something called CQWI, that's combined qualified weapons instructor. We run that every year and that's good value in the U.K., but it's nothing like the size and scale of what the U.S. forces put on up here."

Because of the vast air space, Alaska is unique for practicing aerial mission.

"I think the air space that the U.S. Air Force has here is superb," said Pickup. "The environment here is such high tempo nature, not only for the aircrew but for the mission crew as well. Some of the days here are 10- to 12-hour days for the crews who are working here. It closely replicates what we might experience during a war scenario."

Since its inception, thousands of people from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as armed services from Germany, Sweden, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mongolia, and the Republic of Singapore, have taken part in Red Flag-Alaska's predecessor, Cope Thunder. Last year, more than 2,000 people deployed to Red Flag-Alaska, with participating aircrews flying nearly 2,000 training missions.

Deciding who is invited to participate in Red Flag-Alaska takes a lot of cooperation. "General (Howie) Chandler actually has a big part in that," said Lt. Col. Greg Franklin Detachment 1, 353rd Combat Training Squadron commander. The executive observer program invites coalition partners, and other countries, to send out representatives to see Red Flag-Alaska. From that they can see what kind of training is provided and determine if that kind of training is what their country would like to participate in, he said.

"We had a standing involvement with Cope Thunder as it was in years gone by," said Pickup. "As Cope Thunder changed to Red Flag-Alaska we've come back every year to get involved. We've always been involved with Red Flag at Nellis (Air Force Base, Nev.) as well. It's good to see such a major exercise developing up north here."

Many nations, like Great Britain, see the value of large training exercises like this. "It's a fantastic value for us to operate in," said Pickup. "The variety and number of assets we operate with, during Red Flag (Alaska) make this very special for us in terms of training and what we can achieve here."

It's a good opportunity for the U.K. to coordinate with their U.S. counterparts, said Pickup. The cooperation between the forces allows them to help the exercise's development. In the future they are hoping to get more tactics and procedures, he said.

Red Flag-Alaska provides generic scenarios using common worldwide threats and simulated combat conditions. The exercise gives its participants an opportunity to make the tough calls combat often requires.

"It's the best training for war," said Pickup.