Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, August 20, 2021

vol. 5, no. 17 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR Aug. 20, 2021

An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
Red Flag 21-3 uses joint training

to enhance interoperability

by Staff Sgt. Miranda A. Loera
Nellis AFB, Nev.
Red Flag exercises have been around Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus
for 46 years, and the concept was created A U.S. Marine Corps maintainer assigned to
to tactically train fighter pilots. the All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron
Through these exercises, multiple 533, prepares to marshal out an aircraft
coalition forces and joint sister services during Red Flag 21-3 at Nellis Air Force
come together three times a year to train Base, Nev., Aug. 3, 2021. Red Flag prepares
in a simulated, safe environment with maintenance personnel, ground controllers
threat-replicating aircraft. and space and cyber operators to
The uniqueness of Red Flag-Nellis 21-3 support missions within the same tactical
is that the training only involves U.S. environment as pilots and senior leaders.
personnel, allowing the joint participants
from other services and major com- ment of Defense is focusing now, which
mands to focus on details and sharpen has put some additional emphasis on
their skillsets at a high classification and exercises such as Red Flag. It’s all about
high tactical level. integration, and we’re still able to get
Alongside the U.S. Air Force, Red that done in an extremely professional
Flag-Nellis 21-3 included the U.S. Navy, Air Force photograph by environment. For our maintainers to

U.S. Marine Corps, Space Force, Air Staff Sgt. Miranda A. Loera understand how the airfield operates
National Guard and the U.S. Air Force A U.S. Navy maintainer and functions is a huge combat readiness
Reserves. assi gn e d to th e enabler for us”
“When you can bring joint units along Electronic Attack The great power competition contin-
with the Air Force in an environment S qu a d ro n 1 3 8 ues to be a major talking point within
like this, it’s no longer part-task train- ‘RAMPAGE’ at Naval the Department of Defense. Red Flag is
ing,” said Lt. Col. Tyler Stef, Red Flag Air Station Whidbey another way to prepare and allow par-
commander. “It is full integration… We Island, Wash., prepares ticipants to experience situations similar
will better know and understand their an EA-18G Growler to those possible in the real-world.
service culture. Red Flag is the opportu- during Red Flag 21-3 Both commanding officers prioritized
nity people get to come and start to build at Nellis Air Force Base, the importance of bringing together the
those relationships that will ultimately Nev., July 28, 2021. Red common perspectives against shared
last a career.” Flag 21-3 welcomed threats merges the different organiza-
Joint military training and exercises Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus 2,200 U.S. participants tions together to understand their pro-
are designed to train commanders and A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet, assigned to the All-Weather from the U.S. Air Force, cesses. While the aircrew tends to the
staff in joint operations that consist of Fighter Attack Squadron 533, taxis out during Red Flag 21-3 at Nellis Navy, Marines, Space aircraft, whether it be Navy, Marines or
Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 3, 2021. Red Flag exercises are conducted Force, Air National Air Force, they have the responsibility of
on the Nevada Test and Training Range, which houses more than Guard and U.S. Air ensuring the integrity of the aircraft does
12,000 square miles of air space and 2.9 million acres of land. Force Reserves. not shift. However, they are relying heav-
ily on the space and intelligence aspect to
tasks as important as collecting, dissemi- VMFA-115 Marine Fighting Squadron ensure the airspace is clear and prepared.
nating and analyzing intelligence data. commanding officer, placed emphasis on “The relationships that are built here,
“Having multiple major commands the importance of joint participation and will afford them challenging problem
participating makes this an even more the airpower components that have been sets that may evolve,” said Stef. “The
unique exercise,” said Stef. “They bring a involved, allowing integration amongst unique opportunity is when you can get
Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. Miranda A. Loera different focus for different problem sets one another to achieve a successful Red together for three weeks and build strong
A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II from Hill and gain unique perspectives, because Flag. relationships and eventually see them
Air Force Base, Utah, takes off during Red they are well-versed in that specific re- “Joint interoperability is important,” again in the future. We will continue
Flag 21-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July gion. For this one, we are focusing on a said Miller. “It allows us to practice how to sustain a warfighting culture and
23, 2021. Red Flag was created to increase pacific region threat, allowing our Pacific we are going to operate in the event that provide more advanced threat training
interoperability, leveraging common Air Forces to give us that insight.” some real-world combat operation was while also continuing to know and un-
perspectives against shared threats. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tim Miller, to arise. That’s kind of where the Depart- derstand each other’s culture.”