Mad Hatters transition to Green Flag 16-9 Published Sept. 1, 2016 By Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- F-15E Strike Eagles, personnel and equipment from the 492nd Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England continue their U.S. “road show” as they kick-off exercise Green Flag 16-9, to provide air-to-surface combat training support to joint forces and U.S. allies at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept 1. The exercise is conducted ten times annually utilizing the 1,200 square-mile ranges of the National Training Center located at Fort Irwin, California; Which involves more than 5,000 Army soldiers facing simulated enemy forces in a two-week long pre-deployment test of proficiency. "We’re excited to continue our training here at Nellis,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Hund, 492nd Fighter Squadron commander. “Exercises like Green Flag allow us to show our joint service teammates and U.S. allies just how multidimensional our capabilities are in an ever changing battlefield.” During the exercise, the Mad Hatters will support NTC, which provides invaluable combat training to joint and coalition warfighters in the art of air-surface integration and the joint employment of airpower. “Being able to integrate with the NTC is tremendous, the close air support we execute during Green Flag ensures we provide our aircrew and our joint partners with an accurate sight picture of how we will fight in combat," said Hund. Green Flag is a realistic air-land integration combat training exercise involving the air forces of the U.S. and its allies. It is administered by the U.S. Air Force Air Warfare Center and Nellis AFB through the 549th Combat Training Squadron in conjunction with U.S. Army Combat Training Center exercises at Ft Irwin, CA.