JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska 17-1 lifted off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Oct. 6.
RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces flown under simulated air combat conditions. It is conducted on the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex with air operations flown primarily out of Eielson Air Force Base and JBER.
This exercise provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment.
“For this Red Flag, it’s our largest airlift component we’ve had this season,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Dennis Lincoln, 354th Operations Group Detachment 1 commander. “We have up to 10 different airlift aircraft here. We are combining United States Army Alaska training with that as well, doing multiple missions where we’re dropping up to 700 Soldiers through the various airlift entities, with the focus being the joint international integration between USARAK and airlift.”
RF-A, which is a continuing exercise series dating back to 1975, is conducted four times each year. RF-A 17-1 is the last one this year.
Approximately 2,000 total U.S. service members will participate in the exercise, with about 1,295 coming from outside Alaska-including more than 200 international visitors. Red Flag-Alaska 17-1 is a joint exercise that includes participation from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corps as well as international participation from the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.
The large contingent of aircraft participating in RF-A 17-1 include U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-16 Eagles, KC-135 Stratotankers, E-3 Sentries, C-17 Globemasters, C-130 Hercules, a HH-60 Pave Hawk, and U.S. Marine Corps F-18 Hornets. International aircraft joining the fight are F-15K Slam Eagles and C-130 Hercules from the Republic of Korea Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The U.S. Air Force’s focus during RF-A is on maximizing regular, bilateral training with long-standing allies.
“We have both ROKAF and New Zealand C-130s participating,” Lincoln said. “It allows us to be able to operate more effectively in a contingency environment. What the crews have learned in the first few missions is how to overcome language challenges and operating out of two locations, Eilson Air Force Base and JBER.”
For the ROKAF, the scale of airlift packages provides invaluable experience.
“This is a huge opportunity for us,” said Maj. Kwangheum Choi, ROKAF C-130H pilot. “Back in Korea, there are not as many opportunities to participate in a huge package exercise, especially for airlift guys.”
Choi said that while language barriers can sometimes be a challenge, he and his fellow airmen work through it, and learn valuable lessons along the way.
“We work really well with our U.S. counterparts,” Choi said. “For instance, we had some loading issues yesterday morning and we called the U.S. loadmasters and they came and helped us offload heavy equipment successfully.”
RF-A participants often point to developing personal relationships as key to building trust and establishing rapport, especially with international partners.
“For military forces, knowing who you’re going to work with and having a face-to-face connection with them is very important,” Lincoln said. “During the exercise, as people get more comfortable with each other, you see some bonds start to develop. Friendships blossom and you learn more about each other’s cultures and what your respective forces bring to the fight.”
Choi said he has experienced working with U.S. forces in Korea, but this is his first time working with the U.S. Air Force in the United States.
“I’m pretty sure the size of the airspace here at Red Flag is at least four or five times bigger than we are used to flying in,” Choi said. “It’s been a challenging but fun experience.”
Alaska’s strategic value, in terms of combat training, is its vast airspace, varied terrain and advanced range complexes. The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex provides more than 67,000 square miles of airspace, one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, both manned and unmanned. This makes the JPARC the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world.
“Red Flag is unique because of the size of the airspace,” Lincoln said. “Additionally, the terrain itself is a new challenge for many who come here. We have 14,000-foot mountain peaks, rolling hills and vast open expanses.”
For some of ROKAF’s aviators, JBER’s unique challenges aren’t just in the air.
“I got a chance to ride a bicycle on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail,” Choi said. “We ran into a moose on the trail. The funny thing was the moose turned around toward us and everyone turned their bicycles around and sped away.”
While Alaska’s moose may not have offered the Koreans much hospitality, Choi said the local population has.
“People are friendly here,” Choi said. “Quite a few people stop me to say hi and ask where I’m from.”
“Sometimes they guess China or Japan,” he added with a wry smile. “But I tell them ‘Korea’ and say hi back.”
RF-A 17-1 concludes Oct. 21.
Paratroopers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, board a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules during Red Flag Alaska 17-1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 12, 2016. During Red Flag-Alaska 17-1, approximately 2,095 U.S. service members will participate in the exercise – approximately 1,295 personnel from outside Alaska and 203 international visitors.