4th Fighter Wing begins soaring at Red Flag

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chuck Broadway
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  The 4th Fighter Wing assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., began flying operations for Red Flag 14-2 here, March 3.

More than 250 Airmen and 14 F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson are participating in the two-week Red Flag exercise scheduled to run through March 14.

Red Flag is a multi-faceted exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., which incorporates all domains of warfare including command and control, real-time intelligence, analysis and exploitation, and electronic warfare.

"This exercise gives Airmen opportunities to experience realistic combat scenarios over a broad spectrum in order to prepare them for future conflicts," said Col. Michael Koscheski, 4th Operations Group commander, who is also serving as Red Flag 14-2 Air Expeditionary Force wing commander.

The 4th FW is acting as the lead unit for Red Flag for the first time since 2011. According to Koscheski, 4th FW members will control operations on the ground, in addition to flying missions, maintaining an efficient and maintaining a smooth-running exercise.

"It's a privilege for the 4th FW to be here as the core unit," Koscheski said. "We have great Airmen and I'm confident they will excel both in the air and on the ground throughout this entire exercise. They will be tested and stressed to their individual limits, but I fully expect they will rise to the challenge and leave here with invaluable experience in advanced air combat operations."

The 4th FW will also be charged with the effective integration of six countries and 11 different U.S. military units into simulated combat operations.
"To see the extent of airpower displayed here is impressive," Koscheski said. "A lot goes into bringing the U.S. and coalition forces together for Red Flag, but it's all well worth the effort because this provides us with a great training opportunity."

Red Flag is the largest combat training exercise in the world and is conducted on the Nevada Test and Training Range. The NTTR is the largest contiguous air and ground space available for peacetime military operations in the free world. It also serves as the arena for the intense simulated confrontations between the Blue Force, made up of U.S. joint and coalition forces, and the Red Force, a group of U.S. Airmen trained in the use of adversary tactics and equipment organized under the 57th Adversary Tactics Group assigned to Nellis. The 2.9 million acre range provides 5,000 square miles of airspace for the realistic training of aircrews.

"The range is defended by advanced, integrated, air defense systems that give participants a chance to experience intense combat scenarios in a contested and degraded battle space," Koscheski said. "Over the next few weeks we'll have a chance to push our operational limits and enhance their readiness in an effort to better prepare ourselves for any potential future conflicts."