Exercise, exercise, exercise … Are your Airmen prepared to deploy?

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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --   The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center here nominates sourcing for about 38 exercises each year so Airmen can exercise their deployment capabilities before actually deploying.

Exercises provide a realistic contingency environment to familiarize combat operation forces and expeditionary combat support forces with capabilities needed in executing an assigned mission.

Airmen need to understand that there is the possibility of supporting both deployments and exercises during their AEF deployment window, said Mary Olson, AEF Force Scheduling Analyst. They may be called upon to support exercises prior to the deployment window to prepare for the deployment.

Commander support for these exercises is important to provide the most mission-ready Airmen to the combatant commander in theater.

Exercises give warfighters and planners a chance to work together before deploying, Ms. Olson said. They help refine and maintain our Airmens abilities and preparedness for actual deployments. Not only does it gauge their readiness capabilities, it helps strengthen weak areas before their deployment.

Examples of exercise deployments are Eagle Flag and Bright Star.

Some Expeditionary Combat Support Airmen, such as civil engineers or communications specialists, may be tasked to attend Eagle Flag, an exercise that simulates opening and establishing an airbase to initial operating capability. Scheduling Eagle Flag exercises several times a year and aligning them with the AEF cycle allows Airmen to hone their skills while training with the ECS forces they may be working with upon arrival at the deployed location.

Meanwhile, an F-15C unit may end up deploying to Bright Star during their AEF instead of supporting a forward combat mission. Airmen deployed to Bright Star would plan and execute a multinational exercise that enhances preparedness for coalition warfare. It includes the full spectrum of military activities to include air, ground, special forces, naval and amphibious operations. Pilots have the opportunity during Bright Star to practice working in a multinational environment very similar to what they could face at a deployed AEF location.

Both of these exercises are examples of how we train like we fight and fight like we train, Ms. Olson said. Fully supporting these exercises ensures Airmen are trained, equipped and prepared to meet the needs of the combatant commander.