Joint AF, Navy team participate in Green Flag East

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joseph A. Pagán Jr.
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Airmen assigned to the 23rd Maintenance Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia and Sailors from the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-126, Norfolk, Virginia, participated in Green Flag East here, April 13 to 29.

Green Flag East is a joint exercise allowing participants to practice their specific craft with other units from all branches of the military, while also providing a training environment similar to a deployment.

"Our squadron got invited to participate in Green Flag for the first time in about 10 years," said U.S. Navy Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Steven Saxbury, VAW-126. "We got involved because our type of aircraft, E-2C Hawkeye, has a unique involvement in these situations and we can do battle management and control on such a large scale from a more forward station."

Hawkeyes can extend the range of communications, control other fighters and assist in conducting missions with their exercise partners, Saxbury said.
The capabilities of the Hawkeye helped coordinate Moody's A-10 II Thunderbolt, known as the Warthog, by providing a wider range of support for troops on the ground.

"Essentially, the E-2 is the quarterback. It sees the entire playing field, and determines what each player will do and how it can be executed," said Saxbury.

No matter what field the Hawkeye or Warthog are on, joint training is essential to moving the military in the right direction.

"Traditionally, we do a particular role when we go in the maritime environment," said U.S. Cmdr. Przemyslaw Kaczynski, VAW-126 commander.  "What we're doing right now is working with the Army, Air Force and the Royal Singapore Air Force to become proficient at close air and ground support and helping to move troops in the right direction."

Green Flag East provides an opportunity to get a chance to see how the Air Force works on the battle front, Kaczynski added.

"We get to see how the Navy operates and the Navy gets to see how we operate, and everyone can stand to learn something," said 2nd Lt. Joshua Hager, 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant officer in-charge, Moody AFB, Georgia. "As military members, we are definitely moving toward a joint force. If we're going to work together in the deployed environment, then the exercises are crucial because it allows us to get used to working with one another."