Australian airmen sharpen skills at Red Flag

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • Red Flag Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat exercise where aircrews from the United States and allied nations train in realistic aerial war scenarios over the Nevada Test and Training Range in southern Nevada.

One of the nations, along with the United States and United Kingdom, participating in Red Flag 10-3 is Australia.

The majority of the Royal Australian air force maintainers, pilots and jets arrived Feb. 19, and they have been working nonstop since they set foot on the base situated in the Mojave Desert, not far from Las Vegas.

Cpl. David Wilkins, a trade supervisor with the 77th Squadron at Williamtown deployed to Nellis, said he hasn't had much time to do anything else but get their F/A-18 Hornets ready to fly in the exercise, but he looks forward to working around the other nations and aircraft.

All the work at Red Flag has given these Australian airmen a taste of what a deployed environment would be like since many of them have not been deployed or participated in an exercise of this nature. Cpl. Mick Remand, 77th Squadron, said he hasn't deployed, but has been a part of other Australian exercises and says this is a great opportunity to learn and work in a fast-paced environment.

Although it is a new environment, they still put their focus on keeping their heads in the game by practicing the same standards they keep at RAAF Base Williamtown, their home station about 19 miles north of Newcastle, Australia.

"We try to do the same thing as back home or you'll make mistakes otherwise," Corporal Wilkins said.

While deployed to Red Flag, these maintainers from down under will sharpen their skills while working in a coalition environment.