Eagle Flag 06-1 finishes, but the learning goes on

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Dominique Brown
  • Eagle Flag 06-1 Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING STATION LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFPN) --  Being prepared to deploy is the key to success of the Air Force’s expeditionary mission. This is where Eagle Flag comes in. 

The two-week exercise, held Oct. 18 to 28 here, tested Airmen on a multitude of expeditionary combat support skills. Participants for the exercise are chosen based on their potential to deploy for real-world air expeditionary force taskings. 

The goal, according to officials with the Air Mobility Warfare Center’s 421st Combat Training Squadron, is for Airmen to gain insight into the conditions and situations they may encounter at a deployed location. The latest Eagle Flag brought in Airmen of all ranks, from multiple career fields and Air Force bases from around the world. 

“We don’t look at this as training,” said Tech. Sgt. Todd Charlesworth, 421st CTS instructor who has worked on Eagle Flag since the inception of the field exercise two and a half years ago. 

“The leadership message is that everyone should come here fully trained. This is the dress rehearsal,” said the cadre member. 

Not to be taken lightly, Eagle Flag requires setting up operations from a bare-base site to a fully operational air field and is structured to challenge personnel on all levels. 

“This is the most comprehensive exercise for deployment preparation I’ve ever seen,” said Master Sgt. Scott Petrin, a contingency contractor stationed at Eielson AFB, Alaska. “I have deployed five times and this is very realistic.” 

Conditions during Eagle Flag 06-1 included participants wearing the full “battle rattle” ensemble, eating meals ready to eat, or MREs, and combating the elements of a torrential rain while working 14- to 20-hour days. 

“I was impressed with the dedication of the folks,” said Colonel Albert Zelenek, who served as the 421st Air Expeditionary Group commander for the exercise from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. “Even after the long days and minimal sleep, people were still gung-ho and motivated.” 

Besides the challenging living and working conditions and operating around the clock to build a base from the ground up, Eagle Flag 06-1 also incorporated possible real-world threats – such as responding to or deterring terrorist threats or chemical attacks. 

“Units need to take Eagle Flag seriously,” Colonel Zelenek said. “This field exercise gives people the experience they are going to require. Don’t shortfall these taskings — put your people in for them.” 

Maj. Jackie Day came to Eagle Flag from Langley AFB, Va. and filled the role as the site medic during the exercise. 

“I was deployed previously to Saudi Arabia, and wish I had been able to do something like this before going. The scenarios put you face-to-face with real possibilities you could encounter on a deployment,” said the major, who also recently finished a two-year tour as an AEF tasking scheduler. 

Recent Eagle Flag participants are not the only ones who feel the exercise is beneficial. 

“Feedback we get from participants is that this is good exposure and experience before going on a deployment,” Sergeant Charlesworth said. 

Although personnel came from different bases with a variety of missions, teamwork and camaraderie were established immediately. 

“The mission was clear and everyone pulled together and tackled the tasks at hand,” Colonel Zelenek said. “I could see the team build stronger as we progressed.” 

And just like a real deployment, friendships and contacts were made. 

“The relationships built here will continue well beyond Eagle Flag,” the colonel added.