Ellsworth participates in first coalition Virtual Flag exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A training team from Ellsworth joined teams from all over the world during Virtual Flag 09-04, Sept. 18 and 21, the first simulation of its kind to host coalition forces.
 
Virtual Flag is an exercise that provides realistic training for Airmen through simulators located at their respective bases, without incurring the costs associated with a real-world exercise. 

The simulators are linked through a network that provides real-time data and updated scenarios from the Distributed Missions Operation Center, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. 

"The scenarios are designed to look, as much as possible, like an actual war," said Capt. Brian Fuhs, 28th Operations Support Squadron instructor weapons systems officer. "We were given our air tasking order from DMOC, and had to turn around and brief our crews on their mission for the day." 

Ellsworth participated in the scenarios, along with 21 other locations worldwide, including: Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Dyess AFB, Texas, El Segundo, Calif., Fort Bliss, Texas, Ft. Sill, Okla., Hurlburt Field, Fla., Kirtland AFB, N.M., Moody AFB, Ga., McChord AFB, Wash., Offutt AFB, Neb., Naval Air Station Whidbey, Wash., The Pentagon, Tinker AFB, Okla., Elmendorf AFB, AK, Hickam AFB, HI, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, Warrior Preparation Center, Germany, Ottawa, Canada, Royal Air Force Waddington, U.K. and Royal Australian Air Force Williamtown, Australia. 

Each location had its own self-set objectives that linked up with the overall goal of VF 09-04. 

Ellsworth's objectives were based on the number of targets struck during missions, and during the Sept. 18 mission the team from Ellsworth hit every target. On Sept. 21, however, Ellsworth was unable to complete its virtual mission due to the amount of enemy air resistance programmed into the simulation. 

"Our fighter support literally ran out missiles before we could get to the target," said Captain Fuhs. "The real lesson learned was that we're the guys who put bombs on target, but we need a certain number of fighters to support us as well." 

During the following scenario, the team from Ellsworth was able to learn from the prior exercise and strike all four targets they were assigned to hit. 

The targets and missions incorporate multiple services, communication and weapons systems that mirror real-world situations coalition forces may face during an actual deployment. In addition to being cost effective, Virtual Flag provides Airmen the training they need to execute the mission in the real world. 

"Virtual Flag gives Ellsworth Airmen an opportunity to communicate with coalition forces and experience a wide range of scenarios that mirror an actual combat environment," said Colonel Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "Especially when flying resources are tight, we must continue to find innovative training opportunities like Virtual Flag to grow our combat capability" 

Virtual Flag has been conduction training operations since 2000, when services realized that by training in isolation they were limited to a specific mission and resources. By combining their efforts, coalition forces are able to complement each other and achieve greater results at a faster rate.