Marines from Yuma, Ariz., made an appearance during a two and half week-long exercise for RED FLAG-Alaska 15-1, where they practiced scenarios that would be used in a deployed setting.

Marine Attack Squadron VMA-311 Tomcats recently deployed several AV-8B Harrier ground attack aircraft to participate in the final RF-A of the calendar year.

"This is our first time doing a joint-exercise as big as RED FLAG and it's really interesting getting together with the other branches to compare notes on how we do things at different levels both generally and tactically," said Capt. Brian Goss, a VMA-311 Harrier aircraft pilot assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. "We've been getting along really well with everybody and it's really interesting to see how we all work together, integrate and come together to accomplish the mission."

The Harrier provides air-to-ground attack capabilities with the main goal of striking a ground target while still being conscious of an air war above them.

Cloudy skies have brought different challenges to the fighter pilots and thinking outside the box has become part of the mission.

"The biggest issue coming from Yuma is that there is barely a day in the year that you see a cloud and their presence introduces a whole new set of problems while trying to bomb a target area," said Goss. "Some days we're limited to 2,000 feet of clear air, so we have to go through a really long and complicated thought process on how to successfully execute a mission, but it becomes really great training in that aspect."

Clouds weren't the only issue the Tomcats faced, as cold weather required personnel to bundle up and snow prevented the Harriers from showing their unique vertical take-off and landing capability.

"Vertical take-offs and landings give for a good show, but here it's for good purposes that we don't do it due to a foreign object debris issue," said Sgt. Devin Griffin, a VMA-311 work center supervisor. "Right now there are ice pockets out on the runway and when our jets come in to hover, the ice that is under the jet can get sucked into the intake and potentially cause a problem."

The Tomcats have overcome the many issues Mother Nature has thrown at them and continue to stay optimistic throughout the remainder of RF-A 15-1.

"Communication throughout all of the branches of service runs very nice and smoothly," said Griffin. "RED FLAG is very easy and simple as long as you have your pieces in the right order, then everything falls into place."

The Marines have noticed that communication becomes easier with the everyone participating in the same general area.

"It's a wonderful training exercise and the facilities here are absolutely amazing," said Goss. "Everything that we host in Yuma is spread out all across the base, but here it's all in one building and every single person is working toward a common goal."

The impact RED FLAG has on participants who visit often prompts many of them to share their experience, keeping the spirit alive in various parts of the world.

"I've talked to guys who've come to RED FLAG a few years ago and they said this is one of the most important couple of weeks of training in their life due to the detailed integration and planning process," said Goss. "RED FLAG forces you to work outside your comfort zones and with other individuals within our squadron's platforms."