Military exercise offers joint training opportunity

  • Published
  • By Army Sgt. Ricardo Branch
  • Northern Edge Joint Information Bureau
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The joint-military exercise Northern Edge incorporates numerous services with the responsibility to accomplish the mission on the Alaskan frontier.
 
In the Red Flag military operation center, three services work side-by-side to ensure on-time aircraft tracking 24-hours a day for the two weeks of the Northern Edge exercise. 

Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Kinter, senior weapons coordinator, 18th Maintenance Operation Squadron, said he works with Marines, Sailors and many Airmen in his section and sees the exercise as a unique training opportunity for him. 

"It's good for us all to work and train together because it allows us to see what the other services do and what we can learn from another," he said. "Like how we conduct business in the air and on land." 

Kinter is responsible for speaking with personnel on the flight line, and handles requests from them to make aircraft missions a success during Northern Edge. 

"You get calls on the radio, or over the phone telling you the aircraft's start time," he said. "There are also requests for fuel and equipment to the jets; we help get them what they need to be ready for flight." 

According to Kinter, the working relationship in the shop is positive with each sister service helping one another when something comes up during the day. The servicemembers work in such a close proximity to each other that they have all learned how to handle each other's responsibilities. 

"You put long hours in here and the work can become overwhelming," he said. "When you need that break and have to step away for a bit, another Sailor, Airman, or Marine can step in and handle your workload for a short time." 

"We're all pretty much on the same page, like a big happy family," said 1st Class Petty Officer Levi Flerchinger, aviation machinist mate, Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9. "If I need help, one of the other personnel in the shop is here to help me and I'm here for them as well."