Nomads fly Canadian skies

  • Published
  • By Capt. Brooke Brander
  • 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs and MAPLE FLAG 41 U.S. Forces Public Affairs
COLD LAKE, Alberta (ACCNS) --  The Airmen of the 33rd Fighter Wing traveled almost 2,500 miles north to take part in one of the world's largest coalition air campaign exercises May 17-18.

Approximately 210 Airmen from the 33rd FW and 16 F-15Cs from the 58th Fighter Squadron traveled to 4th Wing Cold Lake in Alberta Canada to take part in MAPLE FLAG 41, Period Two, scheduled from 19-30 May.

"We are excited for the opportunity to work with our coalition partners here at MAPLE FLAG in Canada," said Col. Jeff Gustafson, 33rd FW vice commander and MF 41 expeditionary force commander. "Exercises, like MAPLE FLAG, RED FLAG ALASKA and RED FLAG NELLIS, allow us to train like we fight today; as coalition partners. The training and relationships developed during exercises like this lay the foundation for future interoperability during the real deal."

Roughly 3,000 military personnel are expected to participate in this year's exercise, according to the 4th Wing Public Affairs Web site. Canada's MAPLE FLAG is one of the largest Air Force coalition exercises in the world.

"We have six countries and four U.S. units working together in Period Two of MAPLE FLAG 41," explained Col Gustafson. "Additionally there are six other countries observing the day-to-day planning, execution and debriefings. This exercise will allow every participating nation and unit to hone their warfighting skills and fine tune their tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTPs."

This year's MF 41 is divided into two periods; Period One took place 5-16 May and Period Two is scheduled for 19-30 May. During each period, forces from Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Singapore, the United States, and NATO will engage in a simulated, 10-day coalition air campaign. MF 41 will provided 33rd FW and allied aircrews with realistic training in a modern simulated air combat environment, emphasizing air-to-air, air-to-surface and surface-to-air operations involving large package coalition forces.

"This is an exercise where I get to be a part of a much bigger mission," said Capt. Rich Jones, 58th FS assistant chief of weapons. "The opportunity to plan, coordinate and execute the mission with the other participating countries in MAPLE FLAG is what it's all about. We're here as one big team, similar to what it will be like in combat."

For some Nomads this is their first MF while for others 4th Wing Cold Lake is a familiar location.

"This is my second MAPLE FLAG, the first being with the 27th Fighter Wing from Cannon Air Force Base [N.M.] in 2006" said Maj. Michael Shetler, 33rd Maintenance Operation Squadron commander and MF 41 Maintenance Group commander. "How we do the job is the same at home or deployed. Exercises like MAPLE FLAG teach our maintainers how to pack-up and deploy and how to work with other military services and host nations."

The 16 F-15C Eagles from Eglin arrived to Cold Lake over a two-day period with the majority of the fighters arriving May 18. Accompanying the final package of 12 Eagles were two KC-10 Extenders from McGuire AFB, N.J. The tankers not only ensured the final F-15s had fuel for the almost 2,500 mile trip they also brought approximately 120 maintenance troops, support personnel and remaining pilots from the 33rd FW.

"This was my second KC-10 flight," said Airman 1st Class Robert Nelson, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician. "The tanker is noisier than a commercial flight, but my luggage is all behind me and sometimes the crew will let you watch an aerial refueling and that's awesome."

U.S. Forces participating in this year's MF 41 come from the U.S. Air Force and Navy. In addition to the 33rd FW's F-15Cs, an E-3 Sentry from the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base Okla., eight F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 64th Aggressor Squadron Nellis AFB, Nev., and three EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-137 Naval Air Station Whidbey, Wash. are also participating in Period Two.

"The E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System brings a powerful array of radar and sensors which provide the ability to detect, identify and track airborne enemy forces flying beyond the range of friendly fighters' radar or ground radar," explained Maj. Vince Lappano, 965 AACS assistant director of operations and U.S. Forces AWACS detachment commander. "During MF 41, the AWACS is key to painting the initial picture of the "enemy" forces. The AWACS is able to adapt to a wide range of objectives in MF41, such as clearing the airspace of enemy fighters, dropping ordnance on ground targets and/or delivering cargo onto drop areas."

MAPLE FLAG is hosted by 4th Wing Cold Lake. Fourth Wing is Canada's largest fighter wing and its mission is to train, deploy and support world class tactical fighter forces to meet Canada's defense and security requirements - domestically, continentally and/or internationally.

"Fourth Wing Cold Lake is proud to host Exercise MAPLE FLAG 41, one of the largest coalition exercises in the world" said Capt. John Pulchny, 4th Wing public affairs officer. "With its vast and unrestricted airspace and its cutting edge technology and training assets, 4th Wing is a leading center for coalition training."

The Wing also provides continuous Air Sovereignty Alert CF-18 Hornets for the Canadian NORAD region at Cold Lake and from deployed locations.