Top Dogs train in different environment

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  • By Courtesy of AF News and 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 1,300 military members from the United States, France and Australia, to include six F-16s from the 61st Fighter Squadron, have gathered in the Last Frontier to participate in Red Flag-Alaska 07-1 scheduled from April 5 to 21. 

Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commanderdirected field training exercises for U.S. forces, provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. 

"Red Flag Alaska allows superb training for our instructor pilots," said Lt. Col. Douglas Miller, 61st Fighter Squadron commander and exercise participant, "because now we actually get to execute the tactics that we're teaching our students." These exercises are conducted on the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex with air operations flown out of Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases in Alaska. 

It combines Air Force, Navy, French and Australian forces under an air expeditionary wing out of Eielson AFB with a subordinate air expeditionary group at Elmendorf AFB.  "This is a spectacular opportunity for us to work with coalition partners," Lt. Col. Miller said. "There is a little bit of a language barrier and the French tactics are a little different, but what we have found from Monday and Tuesday is that it's working." 

During the Red Flag-Alaska exercise, Luke F-16s will have the opportunity to play Blue Air instead of Red Air, or good guys instead of bad guys. 

Lt. Col. Miller said playing Blue Air is a great way for the pilots to hone their edge for Air Expeditionary Forces and expeditionary operations. 

"I want our guys to regain their proficiency in large force employment," Lt. Col. Miller said. "I definitely think we are accomplishing this as well as challenging ourselves."  According to Lt. Gen. Loyd Utterback, the 13th Air Force commander, this training is vital to operating in forward deployed locations. 

"Red Flag-Alaska exercises enable aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying a minimum of 10 simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment and provides unique opportunities to help integrate various forces into joint, coalition, and bilateral training from simulated forward operating bases," said Lt. Gen. Utterback.  "Additionally, the training allows us to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures and improve interoperability." 

Following Red Flag-Alaska 07-1, a second period will be conducted May 31 to June 15, followed by a third iteration scheduled July 12 to 27.