Warfighters from the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and coalition partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force recently completed Exercise Bamboo Eagle, an advanced training exercise designed to test their capabilities in a contested environment.

“Bamboo Eagle provides us an opportunity to realign with this warrior ethos mentality,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Manglitz, commander of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and the 13th Bomb Squadron. “When we’re able to succeed in those environments, that really bolsters this warrior ethos, and I can see it all across our unit.”

The exercise included scenarios with simulated adversaries, and emphasized rapid mission generation and command and control, preparing Airmen for various combat scenarios. This training helps Airmen prepare for the changing battlespace.

“Warfare is going in a new direction,” said Capt. Gabrielle Franze, maintenance officer in charge of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. “We are not going to fight the way we fought for years in the past. We need to be more dynamic, more flexible, able to think through problems, and trust ourselves to make the decisions we need to make.”

The exercise provided opportunities for Airmen to sharpen their problem-solving skills and operate effectively in different battle conditions. The ever-changing training environment pushed participants to adapt.

Manglitz said that Airmen must fall back on their training to adapt to high-stress environments during real-world missions. They can find assurance in the realization that they’ve practiced their various skill sets in dynamic environments like during Bamboo Eagle.

“Every person has risen to the occasion and really embraced the warrior ethos to try to push the envelope of what we thought we were capable of,” Franze said. “I'm leaving with a lot more confidence that we're going to be able to take on anything that gets set in front of us in the future.”

By honing their skills in high-pressure situations like Bamboo Eagle, Airmen have pushed their own limits and demonstrated their ability to adapt and perform ensuring that they are ready to deliver conventional and nonconventional global strike capabilities…anytime, anywhere..