Icemen train forces foreign and domestic

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  "Practice makes perfect" is a phrase commonly recited throughout an Airman's career. The 354th Fighter Wing's mission upholds that idea during each RED FLAG-Alaska training exercise by enhancing the professionalism, safety and performance of aircrews and support units in preparation for future missions.

The four RED FLAG-Alaska exercises to be held in 2011 will provide approximately 10,000 personnel with combat training experiences and provide pilots nearly 12,000 flying hours collectively.

RF-A educates personnel from the overall mission commander to the youngest wingman.

"The mission of RED FLAG-Alaska is to stress aircrew with their first 10 simulated combat sorties under safe and controlled conditions against a realistic and robust enemy-integrated threat system," said Lt. Col. Brian Toth, 353rd Combat Training Squadron commander.

By challenging the pilots in a closely monitored environment, their skills can be tested and any mistakes made can become a learning tool.

Before Operation DESERT STORM, less than one-fifth of the U.S. Air Force's primary fighter pilots had seen actual combat. RF-A brings a variety of aircraft and capabilities into one location so pilots can train to fight as they would in wartime.

Initiated in 1976 under the name COPE THUNDER, RF-A was originally created after the loss of combat aircraft that occurred during Vietnam. Leadership recognized that pilots who made it through their first 10 combat missions were better equipped to complete future successful missions.

"The reality of the training range and ability to drop munitions is immeasurable," said Capt. Daniel Sanders, 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot. "The combination of size and capabilities of the training airspace, the threats we can present, and the two robust ranges for dropping ordnance make Alaska one of the premier training opportunities worldwide."

RF-A missions provide joint-offensive counter-air interdiction, close-air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. The realistic combat missions involve multiple threats including both air-to-air and surface-to-air.

Depending on the aircraft types and participating unit's objectives, the 353rd CTS creates challenging scenarios that are solvable with the assets available. After the pilots return, they are debriefed and discuss lessons learned from the flight that can be applied to later missions.

"Debriefs are critical to ensure we learn from our mistakes and figure out a better way to handle situations next time if things didn't go quite right," said Captain Sanders.

The presence of several units with different missions involves extensive planning to ensure the simulation is accurate to that unit's purpose.

During simulated missions, pilots encounter different aircraft types and capabilities to develop solutions to tactical problems while performing actions that will achieve mission objectives in accordance with tactics, techniques and procedures and squadron standards.

According to Captain Sanders, it is vital to train together in these types of exercises. Aligning tactics, techniques and procedures so everyone is on the same page is critical and takes time.

"Today's wars are not fought individually. We will be operating jointly with our sister services and with our coalition partners, so we do not want it to be the first time our forces have worked together," said Captain Sanders. "Training together is critical to understanding each other's capabilities, and figuring out how to work together to accomplish the mission."

Aircrews are not the only ones who benefit from the RED FLAG-Alaska experience. Exercises provide an operations training environment for supporting participants such as unit-level intelligence experts, maintenance crews and command and control elements.

By providing scenarios using common worldwide threats and simulated combat conditions, RED FLAG-Alaska gives everyone a training opportunity to make the tough calls combat often requires because "practice makes perfect."