Liberty Warriors participate in Red Flag 10-2

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Liberty Warriors from the 492nd Fighter Squadron joined approximately 1,300 servicemembers, more than 80 aircraft and 19 units from the U.S. and U.K. at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the start of Red Flag 10-2 Jan. 25.

The exercise is the largest, full-scale integration exercise in the world and prepares warfighters for real-world combat by pitting them against the fictional country of Coyote.

"From an aircrew stand point, we lack experience at large-scale operations," said Group Captain Dave Bentley, Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander, deployed here from RAF Waddington, U.K, where he is the Air Warfare Center Operations group captain. "The U.S. and U.K. have done a bang up job at close air support [in current overseas contingency operations], but [large-scale integration] is something at which we're hurting."

Large-scale integration involves more than aircraft flying, fighting and winning. It involves all aspects of combat, on the ground and in the air, and the 414th Combat Training Squadron ensures all servicemembers are challenged.

"We train people here for realistic threats, and it takes a lot of people in the air and on the ground to make that happen," said Lt. Col. Dave 'Nuc' Jorgensen, 414th CTS deputy commander.
Col. John Quintas, AEW commander, deployed from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., where he is the 48th Operations Group commander, agreed.

"Our role is to maximize training for those of us who need it, and our responsibilities are to the aircrews and the people who launch and recover them," he said. "We're going to work very hard to make sure everyone gets the training they need while we're here, because it's for a great reason."

The commander also pointed out how important it is for everyone involved to be ready for any situations that might occur.

"What's the skill set that's going to push us forward in this type of environment?" he asked. "We have to be able to adapt and flex to anything and everything that happens."

The exercise doesn't just include a team forming an air expeditionary wing and going through the motions. Servicemembers at Red Flag must also deal with an aggressor force.

Known as the Red Force, the aggressors are trained to challenge Red Flag participants on all aspects of war and serve as enemy pilots, space jammers, cyberspace infiltrators, and even dig through trash on occasion to challenge their Blue Force counterparts.

Practicing smart operations security is one step that prepares Red Flag warriors for the aggressors.
"Another part of any war is operations security," said Group Captain Bentley. "The aggressors are spying on us, and they will use any bit of intel we give them to get the upper hand."

In the midst of all things war, there was one theme that was reiterated to all participants: safety.

"Fight the war, not the scenario," said Lt. Col. Mike 'Hook' Rider, 414th CTS director of operations. "Don't do anything differently than what you do at home. The basics will keep you safe."