Aircrew Airmen arrive for Checkered Flag 19-1

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Monica Roybal
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 325th Fighter Wing kicked off the first day of a two week-long Checkered Flag exercise at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 6, 2019.

 

The 325th FW partnered with members from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Mobility Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe, to participate in the exercise. The realistic training environment is meant to improve interoperability essential for operational success.

 

This is the first Checkered Flag exercise at Tyndall AFB since Hurricane Michael struck the base in October 2018. Although the area is in a state of recovery, base leaders are also focused on Airmen resiliency and ability to execute their mission.

 

“Executing this exercise months after the hurricane is a great example of how important Tyndall’s mission set is for the Air Force,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Vaimana Conner, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron commander. “As important as it is to execute this exercise, we’ve made sure that we’ve prioritized making sure that we are good hosts and we are able to support the 800 incoming personnel.”

 

Conner explained how Tyndall has welcomed members from the 67th Fight Squadron, the 494th Fighter Squadron and the 94th Fighter Squadron. Personnel including aircrew, crew chiefs, weapons and munitions members, and communication members have also arrived from Moody Air Force Base, Tinker Air Force Base and Whiteman Air Force Base.

 

The Checkered Flag exercise will allow the multiple commands to participate in realistic, dynamic scenarios where dueling squadrons will execute Air Force combat tactics and replicate threat tactics against one another. The exercise will also help keep participating Airmen mission-capable by testing their ability to rapidly respond and deploy to crisis situations on a global scale.

 

“It’s an awesome presence of airpower,” Conner said. “It really gives you an appreciation of what air dominance and air superiority the Air Force is able to bring to any fight.”