Ellsworth participates in Green Flag 15-07

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anania Tekurio
  • 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 from several other groups across the United States, conducted training missions over the U.S. Army National Training Center, Fort. Irwin, Calif., April 26 to May 8 in an exercise known as Green Flag.

More than 400 base personnel and several B-1 bombers participated in the exercise, which is designed to prepare aircrews and support personnel for upcoming deployments by testing their ability to survive and operate in a wartime environment.

"Unlike any other previous Green Flag exercise, this one allowed our unit to execute close air support from a geographically dislocated location," said Capt. Jonathan Scott, 37th BS plans flight commander and Green Flag project officer. "Normally, this exercise is flown out of Nellis Air Force Base, only 13 miles from the range the operations are held."

The recent change allows the training to closely mirror the deployed environment where B-1s support forces from a distant location.

Scott added that the B-1 demonstrated its ability to travel 730 miles from Rapid City, S.D., to Fort. Irwin, Calif., to provide more than two hours of close air support to Joint Terminal Air Controllers, Army Ground Force Commanders and more than 3,700 Army personnel and tactical vehicles in support of their operations and fly back, all without the need for aerial refueling.

"This is my first time participating in a Green Flag exercise," said 1st Lt. Christopher Sexton, 37th BS weapons system officer. "To be able to practice in as realistic conditions as possible is the best training you can get."

In addition to critical training in the cockpit for aircrews, Airmen honed their skills in a number of areas to include launching and receiving aircraft, performing repairs, marshaling, fueling aircraft and loading weapons during the two-week exercise.

"We wouldn't be able to fly these sorties without the hard work and expertise of our maintenance personnel here at Ellsworth," said Scott. "They ensured that each jet was able to get off the ground safely and execute the mission."

Green Flag 15-07 provided Airmen with critical war-time training, aiding their ability to support ground forces for longer durations of time in preparation for potential future operations, according to Scott.