International officers observe Red Flag-Alaska

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. William Farrow
  • 354th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Eighteen senior military leaders from nations across the globe converged in Alaska to see first hand the training capabilities offered through Red Flag-Alaska exercises.

This year's Executive Observer Program shows that many international militaries have interest in participating in the exercise which provides unique opportunities to help integrate various forces into joint, coalition, and bilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.

European nations participating in the EOP included Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Participating Asian nations included India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The North American representative was Mexico.

Regionally, the EOP directly supports U.S. Pacific Command's primary Theater Security Cooperation objective of developing Asia-Pacific countries into potential coalition partners.

The primary objectives of the EOP are to positively influence and inform foreign air force leaders of U.S. philosophy on coalition operations, the need for improved interoperability, discuss coalition operations at a very high level, and to encourage selected nations to actively participate in future Red Flag-Alaska exercises.

During the RF-A 07-3 exercise, EOP participants took part in a number of engagement opportunities to include visiting exercise operations at both Elmendorf and Eielson Air Force bases.

The visitors toured RF-A facilities at both Elmendorf and Eielson locations, received briefings covering RF-A operations and capabilities and got a glimpse of the expansive Pacific Alaska Range Complex via helicopter.

The EOP also gave the visitors first-hand interaction with the committed professionals who make the RF-A exercises happen at Eielson and Elmendorf.

Participating forces and future participating forces understand that realistic combat training is essential to the success of air and space operations and Red Flag-Alaska enables aviation units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment.

Additionally, the training allows them to exchange tactics, techniques, and procedures and improve interoperability.