Gunfighters arrive for Red Flag 15-3

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brittany A. Chase
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  Members of the 366th Fighter Wing arrived here, July 6, to begin preparations for Red Flag 15-3.

Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States.

"It's great to be here at Nellis Air Force Base," said Maj. Jonathan Hutto, 366th FW chief of wing weapons and tactics. "Being surrounded by the quality and caliber of people who are here trying to make things better for the Air Force, and the fighter and bomber community is amazing."

The exercise is just one of a series of advanced training programs administered at Nellis Air Force Base on the Nevada Test and Training Range by organizations assigned to the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

"Red Flag is an opportune environment to prepare joint operatations against any organization that could pose a threat toward the U.S.." said Senior Airman Edmund Aldridge, 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics journeyman.

For the men and women on the ground, Red Flag gives less-experienced Airmen and command leaders realistic mission training in a simulated war. It's one of the few places they can receive realistic combat training with different branches of the military.

"We're building a team here," Hutto said. "To do this, we all have to be put in these stressful situations in order to thrive."

The 414th CTS's mission is to maximize the combat readiness, capability and survivability of participating units by providing realistic training in a combined air, ground, space and electronic threat environment while providing a free exchange of ideas between forces.

"Of course the F-15E Strike Eagle is my favorite aircraft," Hutto said. "But even though I love the Strike Eagle, you have to put all the aircraft here together to accomplish the mission successfully, and Red Flag enables us to do just that."

More than 1,000 military personnel will be participating in Red Flag 15-3, which officially begins July 13 and ends July 31.