Ellsworth kicks off Green Flag training exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  B-1 bomber aircrews assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron and a myriad of support personnel are scheduled to fly a group of training missions over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from May 10 to 24.

"This time around we're focusing on close air support," said Capt. Marshall Ziemanski, 37th BS flight scheduler and an aircraft commander for Green Flag. "Our goal is to become more proficient with employing special tactics with the B-1s in our area of responsibility."

For the Airmen of the 37th BS, Green Flag will be the final scrimmage before heading downrange to Southwest Asia later this year.

Ziemanski said this exercise is the perfect chance for Airmen to hone and enhance their skills.

"Downrange, each individual mission will have its differences," Ziemanski said. "Many of the missions we tackle share similar skill sets that we've used on previous missions. Green Flag allows us to practice and enhance our skills and abilities in real time, so that we will continue to provide critical support for ground forces. "

Ziemanski added that Airmen will also have a chance to develop key partnerships with other allied forces participating in the exercise.

"We'll be working side-by-side with Army joint terminal attack controllers who are also getting ready to deploy," said Ziemanski. "The idea is to make sure everyone will participate in a more realistic training environment."

Since 1975 Air Force aircrews, other U.S. military branches and allies have taken part in one of several Green Flag exercises, each of which is two weeks in duration.