Exercise KIWI FLAG kicks off in New Zealand

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  • By Capt Rebecca Heyse
New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland, New Zealand --  Over the next two weeks two C-17 Globemaster IIIs and 70 Airmen from the U.S. Air Force are participating in the Royal New Zealand Air Force's Exercise KIWI FLAG as part of the larger 75th anniversary of the RNZAF celebrations.

Exercise KIWI FLAG is a multilateral, tactical air mobility exercise held at RNZAF Base Whenuapai, which aims to improve the interoperability and partnership of the participating nations. Working alongside Royal Australian Air Force, New Caledonia French Defence Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force and RNZAF counterparts, as well as a KC-130 crew from the U.S. Marines, USAF Airmen will conduct combined flight operations to include aircraft mission generation and recovery, low-level navigation and tactical airdrops.

"The U.S. is honored to participate in the 75th anniversary celebration of the Royal New Zealand Air Force," said Lt Col Jay Belmear, U.S. exercise director for KIWI FLAG. "Through exercises such as KIWI FLAG the U.S. is able to develop and expand combined airlift capabilities with regional partners enhancing our relationship as well as our ability to respond to any variety of events throughout the region should the need arise."

The New Zealand terrain offers unique training opportunities for aircrew, allowing them to hone low-level navigation skills under the watchful eye of our New Zealand host.

"Hosting aircrew and personnel from the U.S. Air Force as well as our other regional partners is thrilling for us," said Squadron Leader Andy Scott RNZAF exercise director. "We are excited to get to showcase some of the distinctive opportunities that come with flying in our country whilst getting to learn from our partners about how they conduct every aspect of the flying mission from planning to debriefing."

In addition to the airlift missions personnel will exchange best practices and tactics during subject matter expert exchanges in aeromedical evacuation, aircraft maintenance and parachute jumps.