RF-A planning starts early

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Eielson Air Force Base prepared itself for RED FLAG-Alaska by inviting participants to planning conferences Jan. 10 to 14.

In a series of briefings, Eielson provided RF-A 11-1 participants with general information and identified administrative responsibilities required for the exercise.

"The planning conference provides the opportunity for the participating units to identify all the requirements necessary to deploy, execute and re-deploy for RF-A," said Lieutenant Colonel Brian Toth, 353rd Combat Training Squadron commander.

RED FLAG-Alaska, an aerial combat training exercise, requires months of planning and organization to accommodate participants. RF-A staff need to familiarize themselves with the training goals a unit wants to undertake.

"Every unit that shows up is going to operate in a different way," said Maj. Donald Mentch, 353rd CTS RF-A team chief. "The planning conference establishes the overall training we are going to put forward so that each unit gets the part of training that they need."

Briefings cover everything from security to materials needed for training missions. Maps are provided to help familiarize participating units with the layout of the RF-A headquarters.

Staff at RF-A provide a training environment for coalition partners to engage in a more realistic war-fighting environment that closely resembles real combat and its stresses.

Foreign participants send staff representatives to planning conferences to identify needs, anticipate challenges, ask questions, and provide feedback. Feedback and questions ensure every RF-A iteration is at least equal or better in its approach of satisfying each unit's needs.

According to Major Mentch, statistics suggest the first ten combat sorties carry higher potential risks to new pilots.

"They created RED FLAG as a way to remove the stress from the first 10 missions," said Major Mentch.

RF-A was created to counteract the amount of stress experienced by new pilots on their first combat mission. It provides each aircrew with these first vital missions, increasing their chances of survival in combat environments.

"This year's RED FLAG-Alaska day one is going to be different," said Col. Toth. "The enemy does not give you a warm-up, so expect them to have the most proficient pilots, their top-line aircraft, and their best air defense system waiting for you."

Prior to Operation Desert Storm, less than one-fifth of the U.S. Air Force's primary fighter pilots had any combat experience. Recently, the percentage of combat-experienced pilots has increased with on-going combat operations. Subjecting pilots to more realistic training scenarios helps fill the experience gap between aircrew that may have not operated in combat conditions. A team effort from Eielson has helped to prepare U.S. Air Force fighter pilots and coalition partners for future conflicts.

A whole-base effort guarantees participants receive the training they ask for, said Major Mentch. The large-scale aerial combat training exercise has helped improve war-fighting capabilities due in large part to early planning and cooperation.

"RED FLAG-Alaska staff has the flexibility to adjust the scenario throughout the exercise based on a participant's inputs," said Col. Toth. "We aim to improve their skills, both flying and generating aircraft, to give units the first intense, stressful combat sorties in a safe, controlled environment."

"We need feedback, both from the planning conference and the exercise, to make the exercise better; the participants are the personnel that make the difference," he added.

The planning conferences help tailor-fit each RF-A iteration to participating units' training needs and goals by serving as forums where participants can exchange information with RF-A staff. This interaction between participants and RF-A staff helps shape and design successful training exercises. By providing generic scenarios using common worldwide threats and simulated combat conditions, RED FLAG-Alaska gives everyone an opportunity to make the tough calls combat often requires.