JBER holds RED FLAG-Alaska combat training exercise for nearly 3,100 service members from across the world

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson staff welcomed more than 3,100 service members from across the world, in addition to more than 100 aircraft, during its’ annual 10-day air combat training exercise called RED FLAG-Alaska.

“We’re really getting into the depth of honing our skills here,” said Capt. Kare, who is one of the members visiting from NATO’s Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS). He would not disclose his last name due to operational security.

“This huge chunk of airspace all to ourselves, and not having to factor in all the civilian traffic is a huge opportunity for us,” Kare added.

JBER leaders say RED FLAG-Alaska, which is held up to four times per year, “is designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment, enabling joint combined forces to exchange tactics, techniques, and procedures while improving interoperability with fellow service members.”

The exercise tested service members combat skills on the 77,000 square miles of training airspace, between May 30 and June 14, focused on large-scale joint engagements, interoperability, and enhancing combat readiness, base leaders said.

“We rarely get to integrate with the Army, with the airlift,” Capt. Kare said. “So getting that integration, and having it work to the best extent possible before we were in a case where we actually have to use it. That’s a very, very great opportunity for us to hone our skills in that way.”

Other participants, like the Minnesota Air National Guard members, also echoed similar feelings to Kare.

“It’s been really rewarding,” Minnesota Air National Guard Lt. Col. Brian Tripp said, adding he felt his team was able to improve their combat readiness skills.

When we’re at home, we’re typically in a two-aircraft formation, flying alone. And here we’re able to get the total force integration,” Tripp said. “So here we’ve been able to work in larger formations.”

Tripp credited exercises, including dropping military personnel from an aircraft to secure a large event, helped his team hone their skills.

“That joint force integration is not something that we get to practice very often. So being able to do that twice while we were here with those partners has been a huge boon to our combat readiness for our unit,” Tripp said.

The next round of RED Flag-Alaska is set to take place in late summer.

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