An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Oct. 11, 2018

The 35th Fighter Wing Kicks Off RED FLAG-Alaska 19-1

By Airman 1st Class Collette Brooks 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 19-1 kicked off at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 4 with primary flying operations being executed over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. Misawa Air Base’s 35th Fighter Wing is serving as the lead unit throughout the Pacific Air Forces-sponsored training.

For more than two decades, the joint-tactical combat employment exercise has focused on ally development and cohesion. U.S. military branches and armed services of multiple countries around the world come together to exchange tactics, operations techniques and procedures to improve interoperability; this RF-A iteration includes the U.S. Air Force Marine Corps, Navy and Army as well as the Finnish and Republic of Korea Air Forces.

“This exercise is crucial to mission success because it allows U.S. forces to exchange knowledge and information with our invaluable counterparts,” said Master Sgt. Tonya Wood, a 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit aircraft section chief. “If we were in a combat status, we would already have a pre-developed relationship established thanks to joint ventures like this.”

Pacific Air Forces expects this exercise to train more than 1,000 personnel in a simulated air combat environment, in which 60 aircraft will be utilized.

“This is the Air Force's premier exercise,” explained Col. Jason Cockrum, the 35th Operations Group commander and Misawa’s unit commander on the ground in Alaska. “Due to Alaska's range of air space, this training opportunity is unique and cannot be executed elsewhere. We are allotted time and space to team build and develop regional stability, which aids in enemy deterrence.”

RF-A exposes all parties to combat-like scenarios to familiarize members with high-intensity, fast-paced operations. Scenarios replicate conceivable real-world threats but in a safe and maintained environment.

“Daily operations at Misawa Air Base typically consist of standard training,” Wood explained. “However, we now have the opportunity to work with multiple mission design series, aircraft, units and countries. It's a real-time look at how to react to a conflict, without actually being exposed to it.”

The exercise wraps up Oct. 19.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
362,872
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Travels to the Philippines
Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff (right), and Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, participate in an honors ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, on March 12, 2024. The visit included exchanges on regional security and mutual partnership, further developing the strategic partnership with the Philippines codified in the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon M. Smith)
March 13, 2024 - Manila, PHILIPPINES — Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited the Philippines March 10-14, 2024, where he met with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Armed Forces of the...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru
March 13, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

Working Groups Build Capacity and Develop Capabilities with Allies and Partners Across Indo-Pacific
Courtesy photo
March 13, 2024 - More than 450 security cooperation stakeholders and international partners gathered at Camp Withycombe, OR, for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s (USINDOPACOM) combined Capabilities Development Working Group (CDWG) and Security...

USS Annapolis Port Visit in Perth, Australia
March 12, 2024 - USS Annapolis (SSN 760) arrived in HMAS Stirling in Perth, Western Australia Sunday...

U.S. Army Assault Helicopters Conduct Deck Landings on USNS Dahl
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade exit a U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter after single-spot deck-landing qualifications on prepositioning ship USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312), March 7. (Courtesy photo)
March 12, 2024 - Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade (2-2 CAB) conducted deck landings with U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters on prepositioning ship USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312), March 7...