Ellsworth participates in Green Flag 15-02

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Hada
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  B-1 bomber aircrews assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron and a myriad of support personnel from several other groups conducted training missions over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 7 to Nov. 21 in an exercise known as Green Flag.

Ellsworth sent approximately 170 Airmen and several B-1 bombers to participate 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.

"The exercise provided a great opportunity to sharpen our Airmen's skills and build confidence," said Capt. Anthony Bunker, 34th Bomb Squadron weapon systems officer and Green Flag project officer. "The exercise was a huge success; we successfully flew 52 out of 52 training missions for 100 percent mission effectiveness."

Airmen generated a realistic scenario-based training environment for B-1 aircrews to communicate with ground forces.

They were also afforded a chance to work alongside with soldiers and Airmen from the 6th Combat Training Squadron, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, and the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron.

"We worked with more than 3,000 soldiers during the exercise who were preparing for future deployments," Bunker said. "The idea was to make sure everyone participated in a more realistic training environment."

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.

"The maintainers were able to produce an aircraft for every sortie," Bunker said. "If it wasn't for competent and motivated maintainers, the operations in the Middle East would be impossible. As aircrew, we reap the rewards of their hard work. Broken jets can't drop bombs."

In addition to significant training for deployment scenarios, the exercise demonstrated that Ellsworth's B-1 aircrews are proficient in executing every mission set.