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20th FW Airmen head to RED FLAG-Alaska

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Ann Blodzinski
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Airmen of the 77th Fighter Squadron and 20th Fighter Wing left June 1 for a three-week RED FLAG-Alaska exercise at Eielson AFB, Alaska.

During the exercise, pilots are subjected to every conceivable combat threat preparing them for actual combat.

"RF-A provides our pilots the opportunity to integrate with fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-22 and our coalition partners in preparation for future air expeditionary force taskings," said Col. Don Godier, 20th Fighter Wing vice commander.

RF-A is conducted in the Joint Alaska Range Complex, a 67,000-square-mile training range. At the height of the exercise, up to 70 jet fighters can be operating in the same airspace at one time. It gives everyone an opportunity to make the tough calls often required in combat.

Aircrews aren't the only ones that benefit from the RF-A experience. Exercises provide an operations training environment for participants such as unit-level intelligence experts, maintenance crews, and command and control elements.

The 77th FS recently returned from Operation Unified Protector supporting NATO-led operations over Libya providing suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses.