Whiteman capabilities tested during integrated RF-A

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BAEE, Mo. --  More than 150 Airmen from operations, maintenance and security forces units here fused into the 13th Bomb Squadron detachment to attend Red Flag-Alaska at Eielson AFB, Aug. 5-20.

RF-A is a combat operations exercise that corresponds to the designed operational capability of participating units in order to increase chances of survival in combat.

"Red Flag-Alaska builds on the lessons learned from previous iterations as well as those derived from current world contingencies to provide participants the most realistic, challenging and educational air combat simulation possible anywhere in the world," said Brig. Gen. Jim Post, 354th Fighter Wing commander, who hosts RF-A out of Eielson AFB.

"We trained with our allies to kick down the door and hold whatever our adversaries value most at risk, should deterrence ever fail," said Lt. Col. Mark Pye, 13th BS and detachment commander. "That's exactly what Red Flag-Alaska offered--the opportunity to integrate, train and sharpen our combat skills with and against the best in the world."

The exercise is organized into defensive, offensive and neutral forces. Defensive forces simulate counter-air tactics through ground-control intercept and surface-to-air systems. Offensive forces include U.S. and allied tactical and support units. Throughout the mock war, the neutral team plays middle-man between the two sides, ensuring safety and control standards are met.

"The challenges of using a different airfield provided our Airmen with a new outlook on their expeditionary skills," said Lt. Col. Mark Riselli, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander.

The exercise touches on a wide range of unit assets, such as intelligence, maintenance, and command and control personnel.

Colonel Pye said the primary focus of this exercise was the integration. With this focus came the combination of conventional and low-observable aircraft, the union of active duty and guard, and a coalition of U.S. and foreign pilots.

"This gave us a unique opportunity to fight and train with multiple combat assets in a robust environment, with challenging ground and air based threats," said Colonel Pye. "At the end of the day, both sides [conventional combat and low-observable operations] bring very important capabilities to the fight. We have to train to understand these capabilities and successfully use them in combat."

Combat assets and aircraft weren't the only integration taking place at RF-A, the personnel were also.

More than 20 percent of Whiteman's members who deployed to RF-A were guard, according to Colonel Pye. Along with that, the command in charge of all deployed detachments was Col. Michael Francis, 131st Bomb Wing vice commander.

"This was the first total force integration at red flag for us (Whiteman)," he said. "The Guard was integrated into different roles and functions throughout all levels of responsibility during the exercise."

Bringing in the coalition of U.S. and foreign forces, Lt. Adam "Curdy" Curd, Royal Air Force pilot, is currently flying the B-2 as a 13th BS pilot, an honor afforded to few.

"Lieutenant Curd brings a unique perspective to the B-2 program and coalition forces as a whole having served in combat in the Tornado," said Colonel Pye. "He is especially valuable at venues like Red Flag Alaska where the integration of coalition conventional (F-16) and low observable aircraft such as the B-2 and F-22 is an important objective. Coalition warriors like Curdy make us a more lethal and effective team."

"Eielson AFB and the surrounding communities were great hosts for our entire B-2 team of maintainers, operators and security forces," he said.