An official website of the United States government
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.

First Eagle Flag exercise continues force module evolution

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 421st Combat Training Squadron Public Affairs
FORT DIX, N.J. (AMCNS) --  The first Air Mobility Warfare Center Eagle Flag exercise for fiscal year 2006 began Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 28.

The exercise, which is the 12th since they first began in 2003, practices the first three levels of the Air Force’s force module concept for bare-base buildup operations, including ‘open the air base’, command and control, and ‘establish the air base’.

“Eagle Flag is an exercise that helps senior leaders develop all forces for the force module concept,” said Master Sgt. Robert Hickey, superintendent for the 421st Combat Training Squadron Eagle Flag flight.

Sergeant Hickey added that the more than 400 Airmen who participate in each exercise can achieve a “working sense” of the expeditionary combat support side of the Air Force.

“It really provides a different aspect of what’s out there,” Sergeant Hickey said. “The Airmen who deploy in here for Eagle Flag have the opportunity to not only do their jobs, but also learn and help with other career fields in building an air base.”

Capt. Jack Wheeldon, Eagle Flag flight commander, said the exercise is the only flag-level exercise that looks at how the Air Force trains for expeditionary combat support.

“This is the only place where support forces are given the opportunity to train as a collective group in a safe and realistic training environment,” Captain Wheeldon said. “Keeping our mobility forces expeditionary ready is not only crucial, but also required. When we hold Eagle Flag, we have Airmen who come in here from all over the Air Force and build an air base from scratch -– getting the task done in an expedient manner. This rehearsal helps prepare them for the deployed environment.”

Lt. Col. Lisa Richter, 421st CTS commander, noted the importance of Eagle Flag to the Air Force mission.

“The Air Force has established a force module concept; and over the past 11 Eagle Flags we’ve been able to validate and refine the concept to meet a broad spectrum of environments,” Colonel Richter said. “Regardless of what the follow-on mission or airframe is for the deploying unit, with Eagle Flag using the force module concept has built a solid foundation for the mission.”

Colonel Richter said the use of 18th Air Force contingency response groups, or CRGs, which deploy at the start of Eagle Flag exercises with their multitude of Air Force specialties, helps those involved in the training gain valuable knowledge and practice in completing their task in force module one – ‘open the air base’.

“CRGs are a great example because they are among the newest tools in the Air Force that work within force module global mobility model,” Colonel Richter said. “For example, the 621st Contingency Response Group from McGuire Air Force Base (N.J.) helped establish recovery operations in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. It’s when CRGs like the 621st participate in Eagle Flag, where they can practice for real world events like the hurricane relief mission, where we know what we’re doing with the exercise is validated.”

Future plans are in place to create a humanitarian relief operations scenario for Eagle Flag. Recent involvement by 421st CTS instructors in relief operations for Hurricane Katrina in September will help with development of that scenario. It’s an effort, Sergeant Hickey said, that will get everyone involved in preparing for future expeditionary missions.

“Global mobility is not a new mission for the Air Force,” Sergeant Hickey said. “As Eagle Flag continues to evolve, we’ll be ready to effectively help Airmen be ready for whatever mission they might face.”