Joint Red Flag concludes on high note

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angel L. Casaigne, Jr.
  • Joint Red Flag Joint Information Bureau
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --  The first U.S. and coalition Joint Red Flag exercise ended April 1.

More than 10,000 people participated in the event, the largest distributive exercise in U.S. history.

One of the major undertakings of JRF was the integration of live, virtual and constructive technologies into one seamless picture.

In live training, people and aircraft actually performed an exercise mission, while crews using simulators to performed virtual training. Constructive forces used computer-aided simulations to control a wider span of forces.

The effort by all the live, virtual and constructive participants was tremendous,said Lt. Col. James Murray, 12th Air Force project officer.

“Of the 24,000 sorties flown, 3,500 to 4,000 were live combat training missions, 6,000 to 7,000 were flown as virtual sorties and 18,500 constructive sorties, Colonel Murray said. “We really pushed the limits of the personnel and systems.”

“All the aircrews, virtual flag staff and the folks responsible for the constructive targets across the country and 44 separate sites did an outstanding job,” said Maj. Gen. F.C. Williams, JRF Combined Forces Air and Space Component commander.

As might be expected with such a major undertaking, officials acknowledge there is room for improvement and that they are looking to make the next JRF better. Still, General Williams said the joint training conducted in this exercise will have a direct impact on future warfare.

“This first Joint Red Flag is an experience we will learn from for years to come,” the general said.