Page 4 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, February 5, 2021

4 February 5, 2021 news Desert lightning news s. nevaDa Desert lightning news s. nevaDa news February 5, 2021 5
www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisDesertLightningNews www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisDesertLightningNews
Joint training forges winning warfighters Blacksnakes gain pre-deployment experience at Red Flag 21-1

by Airman Thomas Cox and Airman
by Airman 1st Class Dwane Young what is executed, showing us what works Jakob Ivanick
Nellis AFB, Nev. and what doesn’t.”
Each partner brings unique capabilities Nellis AFB, Nev.
It’s one hour before their first Red Flag to the fight and VAQ 132 doesn’t disappoint The 122nd Fighter Wing “Blacksnakes”
21-1 mission, and U.S. Navy Airmen from with their EA-18G Growler and electronic assigned to the Indiana Air National
Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 at warfare expertise. Among other things, Guard and their A-10 Thunderbolt II air-
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., they provide radar capabilities and tactical craft are at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to
pour out of their building onto the Nellis jamming so allied aircraft are not readily train at Red Flag 21-1 to prepare for future
Air Force Base, Nev., flight line to prepare seen during missions. deployments.
their jets for launch. “We support the fighters by employing
As they approach the flight line, a crew tactical jammers and air-to-ground mis- “A lot of our new Airmen haven’t had a
member mid-conversation stops and yells siles to support the destruction of Surface chance to deploy yet,” said Senior Master
to another; “Hey! You can’t cross that red to Air Missile sites with violent prejudice,” Sgt. Nathan Swineheart, flight line expe-
line!” Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Dwaine R. Young said Reneau. diter assigned to the 122nd FW. “This is
This flight line rule, known as “breaking U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 132 at Naval Air Joint training allows mission com- a good chance for them to get experience
red,” is common across the U.S. Air Force, Station Whidbey Island, Wash., sit next to F-22 Raptors assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf- manders to interact with their support- before we go overseas.”
but for many in the Navy, it’s rare. This Richardason, Alaska, during Red Flag 21-1 at Nellis AFB, Nev., Jan. 26, 2021. Red Flag is the ing units and plan together. Command- The goal of Red Flag is to provide air- Air National Guard photograph by Airman Thomas Cox
split-second moment mirrors the experi- U.S. Air Force’s premier air-to-air combat training exercise, which provides aircrews the ers armed with a full understanding of crews the experience of multiple, intensive Senior Airman Joshua Baer, crew chief assigned to the 122nd Fighter
ence of the majority of joint partners and experiences of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment. the capabilities of their partners can plan air combat sorties utilizing the Nevada Wing, Indiana Air National Guard, taps the wing of an A-10 Thunderbolt
allies at Red Flag 21-1. missions to be safer and more effective. Test and Training Range and the more II prior to a training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2021.
Teams are given three weeks of working scenarios to prepare for future warfare. It “This is as close to actual war you can “What is awesome about Red Flag is than 12,000 square miles of air space it The 122nd Fighter Wing is participating in Red Flag 21-1, which provides
and training together with friends who ensures combat forces are ready to win fu- get in a training environment,” said Lt. showing our partners what the Growlers encompasses. pilots the experience of training against adversary tactics.
operate slightly different, so they must ture conflicts by building partnerships and j.g. Douglas Reneau, VAQ 132 warfare and our squadron can do,” said Reneau. There are a variety of aircraft participat-
communicate well, learn about each other interoperability across multiple domains. and public affairs officer. “We’re in the air “When Growlers integrate with the ing in Red Flag, ranging from the 122nd’s Lt. Col. Ryan “Gus” Schipper, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot assigned to the
and get on the same page to win. This environment matches allies to- with 50 to 100 aircraft, executing a mis- exercise, mission commanders usually A-10s to fifth generation fighter aircraft and 122nd Fighter Wing, Indiana Air National Guard, climbs aboard his aircraft
The 414th Combat Training Squadron gether with a common goal, pits them sion; in briefings together; and our crews change the way the mission is planned. even U.S. Air Force Global Strike bombers. prior to a training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 27, 2021. The
Red Flag exercises provide the U.S. Air against expert opposition and allows launch jets all at the same time. Working We give them more options.” “Everyone wants to be the tip of the mission of the 122nd Fighter Wing is to maintain well-trained, adaptable

Force, partners and international allies the them to work together, building a at a high operations tempo, exposes the __ spear,” said Swineheart. “We are the A-10s, Airmen and highly maintained A-10 aircraft available immediately for
opportunity to experience realistic combat stronger, more lethal and adaptable force. difference between what was planned and See wArfighTErS, on Page 12 so we really are the tip of that spear.” Air National Guard photograph by Airman Thomas Cox combat operations and combat support anywhere in the world.

THE STRIP STARTS HERE TM

CASBAR Lounge
Daily Happy Hour

®
Bazaar Meat
by José Andrés

A Las Vegas icon has returned. Think intimate. Think boutique. Think back to a time when style, sophistication and
service were the hallmarks of a great resort experience. Then, reimagine and reinvent it for a whole new generation
– For the Love of Vegas, that’s exactly what we’ve done. Welcome to the new SAHARA.

6.5” AD SPACE

2535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
702.761.7000 | saharalasvegas.com