Allied Coalition: U.S., Turkish Forces participate in joint exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Michael Charles
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Aircrew members began filing into the small auditorium located deep within the secured facility. As they walk through the vault doors, one after another, some pause to admire the walls adorned with pictures and signed lithographs.  Mementos left over the years by military units hailing from around the globe, all congregating in one common room to begin their Red Flag experience.

 

Slowly the room fills with a diverse coalition from both U.S. and allied forces. Each attendee engages in pre-brief pleasantries with other aircrew members, who, in a matter of hours, may be flying alongside them.  In some cases, these polite strangers will soon fly against them as simulated enemies.

 

“Room; Attention!” one of the Airmen yells as the individual whom many slowly identify as Col. Douglas Thies, the Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander, strides slowly into the room.

 

As he takes his seat, all eyes affix to their position. The voices, which filled the room moments earlier, discussing everything from mission specifics to squadron banter, quickly fade.

 

The first briefer walks to the front of the room near a podium.

 

“Sirs, upon your acknowledgment we are ready to begin the mass brief for this mission,” he says anxiously.  

 

Col. Thies acknowledges the question and turns his head toward his mission commander for the day who is sitting immediately to his left. The mission commander replies with one word; hazir: Turkish for ready.

 

“Hack,” the briefer says calmly. “Today we will be discussing your mission requirements for day three of Red Flag 16-2. Your mission commander for today’s scenario is Col. Mustafa Erturk, Operations commander of the 3rd Jet Base in Turkey and Red Flag 16-2 Turkish Forces detachment commander.”

 

Col. Erturk remained intently focused. He is used to commanding a large coalition force having participated in several training exercises in his own country. However, his experience working with allied partners and promoting interoperability has made him the perfect candidate to lead this training scenario.

 

Over the course of the next 12 hours, more than 75 aircraft and 1700 U.S. and allied forces members, including six Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and two Kc-135 Stratotankers, will train day and night at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to conduct realistic combat scenarios across the domains of air, space and cyber space.

 

Four times a year, the 414th Combat Training Squadron organizes this two-to three- week exercise to refine the total force integration of U.S. and allied forces while conducting missions and overcoming simulated threats and scenarios. This iteration, Red Flag 16-2, acts as a unique opportunity to improve the interoperability between the U.S. and its longstanding North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally.

 

“We train together with our European allies every single day,” said Col Bernard, Red Flag 16-2 AEW commander. “Every time we train together, we become better, more familiar with each other and essentially are collectively more secure.”

 

Joining the F-16s in the exercise are the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagles, B-52 Stratofortress, and B-1 Lancers among other aircraft. Together, they will participate in one of the most unique joint-service, joint-country exercises conducted by the Department of Defense.

 

Following the mass brief given at the beginning of each mission, every unit is assigned a set of objectives utilizing the diverse capabilities of their aircraft.  These can range from air interdiction, combat search and rescue, close air support or dynamic targeting of simulated high value targets such as mock airfields, vehicle convoys, bunkered defensive positions and missile sites.

 

While each unit may have its own objectives, it is crucial for both U.S. and allied partners to work together to achieve a complete mission success. It is the job of the mission commander to provide the plan for this cohesion.

 

“As the mission commander, I am always focused on the big picture,” Erturk said. “We have several commanders whom are participating in this mission under me. It is my duty to ensure we are meeting our mission objectives and to trust my commanders to accomplish their assigned tasks.”

 

The Turkish Air Force is no stranger to participating in joint exercises. Every year, its air forces participate in numerous NATO, joint and bi-lateral exercises. Turkey itself is home to several exercises similar to Red Flag aimed at helping its own country build a more mature and capable force. However, Red Flag presents its own unique challenges.

 

Established in 1975, as one of the initiatives directed by General Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, the exercise’s original intent was to maximize the combat readiness, capability and survivability of participating units by providing realistic training in air to air combat. It has since grown to include ground, space and electronic threats, while also providing a forum for a free exchange of ideas between forces.

 

“Red Flag continues to be an instrumental tool in preparing our forces for the operations of the future,” Col. Bernard said. “It provides both U.S. Forces and our allied partners a valuable opportunity to fine tune our processes in a training environment.”

 

Once selected for participation in Red Flag each unit has one year to complete additional training requirements including demonstrating combat proficiency and for allied participants, a language comprehension requirement. However, the mandatory requirements are minuscule in comparison to the quality of training provided to those who attend the exercise.

 

“Each participating allied country brings a new dynamic to the exercise,” said Maj. Christopher Bulla, 414th CTS exercise organizer. “Our goal is to provide the most realistic combat training environments possible so both the U.S. and allied forces can operate seamlessly should there ever be a time they need to conduct real-world operations.”

 

One of the area’s most participants identified as setting Red Flag apart from the other exercises was its training range.

 

Filled with simulated threats from air, ground and space, the 2.9 million acre, the Nevada Test and Training Range, acts as a perfect arena for its participants.

 

Following their mission, each of the aircrew members who attended the earlier mass brief began  filing back into the same small auditorium from earlier in the day for their debrief.

 

This time there was no talking, each attendee was anxious to see the results from the earlier mission. The exhaustion from the hours of planning and execution their assigned scenarios can be seen, etched deeply onto each of their faces. However, each of their eyes stared intently at the front of the auditorium.

 

Step by step, the 414th CTS staff recounted both the successes and the suggested areas of improvement for the day’s mission. Covering all the bases, much time is also spent discussing how to improve for the next day.

 

Eventually the mood in the room shifts back to the more jovial and conversational one established earlier in the day, as the focus shifts to the restoration of mental energy and physical recovery.

 

As they walk out of the auditorium, each member passes incoming aircrews who will be conducting their own training scenario.  For the next two weeks, the Red Flag building will transform into a coalition strong point and at its center, the U.S. and Turkish forces. 

 

 

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