ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Approximately 1,400 U.S. and foreign participants will be arriving at Eielson and Elmendorf Air Force bases beginning April 13 to participate in Red Flag-Alaska 09-2, scheduled for April 16 to May 1.

Red Flag-Alaska, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. Forces, provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. These exercises are conducted on the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range complex with air operations flown out of the two bases. Alaska's size enables the military to have the largest air-ground training complex in America.

Air forces for Red Flag-Alaska 09-2 include participants from the U.S. Air Force, France, and NATO. Units are organized as an air expeditionary wing at Eielson with a subordinate air expeditionary group at Elmendorf.

Following Red Flag-Alaska 09-2, a second period is scheduled for July 23 to Aug. 7.