Bombers on the Ramp

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, sit on the flightline here on Apr 9 during Red Flag-Alaska 07-1. Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying ten simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. Additionally, the training allows them to exchange tactics, techniques, and procedures and improve interoperability. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)

Light 'em Up!

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- A B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota takes off for a mission during Red Flag-Alaska 07-1 here on April 10. Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise for U.S. forces flown under simulated air combat conditions. It is conducted on the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex with air operations flown out of Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt Joshua Strang)

Ellsworth takes the lead for Red Flag-Alaska 07-1

Published April 12, 2007
By Kimberly Moore Limrick
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Editor's note: This article is part 2 of a series.

One week into a three-week exercise, Ellsworth's members' leadership abilities shine.

Thirteen U.S. military units are participating in Red Flag-Alaska 07-1. Units participating are selected based on their Air Expeditionary Force rotation dates; they are all in the window before their actual AEF deployment bucket. Ellsworth was tasked to take the lead.

Ellsworth's members round out the lead positions with Col. Jeffry Smith, 28th Bomb Wing commander, as the Air Expeditionary Wing commander for RF-A 07-1; Maj. William Lynch, 37th Bomb Squadron assistant director of operations, as the Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander for RF-A 07-1; Chief Master Sgt. John Gillette, 28th Bomb Wing command chief, as the Air Expeditionary Wing superintendent for RF-A 07-1 and Master Sgt. Michael Kadrlik, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant as the Air Expeditionary Wing first sergeant for RF-A 07-1.

Along with the other participating units, Ellsworth's members are leading Australian and French forces.

Co-located all-domain joint training is attractive to the combatant commands, according to a release from Air Combat Command. The strength of the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex is its expansive co-located air and land ranges, as well as a significant potential for co-located air and sea ranges.

Realistic combat training is essential to the success of air and space operations, this exercise provides unique opportunities to help integrate various forces into joint, coalition, and bilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.

"Historically we have never fought alone, and these exercises help foster good community relations with our allies." said Colonel Smith. "Red Flag-Alaska allows us the opportunities to not only integrate our tactics and technical procedures, but also to iron out any communication or hardware differences we might face."

Ellsworth will continue to cover RF-A 07-1 as events develop.