The 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), in South Dakota, US, and 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS), Dyess AFB, in Texas, US, have participated in a joint interoperability exercise in the Andersen AFB, Guam.
The exercise aimed to test the long-range force packaging and showcase global reach capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
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The two squadrons trained with the other members of the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marines during the training scenario.
This exercise saw a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron participate.
It focused on joint force movements at an operational level and involved the defence of important assets, maritime interdiction and airfield seizure.
US Air Force 9th EBS commander Lt Col Ryan Stallsworth said: “Scenarios like these help increase our lethality, readiness, joint force integration, flexibility and agility that can be used in any real-world scenario.
“We also had B-1 assets from the continental US participating in the exercise, which demonstrated our bomber force’s global reach and long-range strike capabilities.”
The mission took place over 25hrs and enabled the forces to test combat strength, flexibility and readiness via the Bomber Task Force and Dynamic Force Employment execution.
Carrier Strike Group 5 Air Operations officer US Navy Cmdr Joshua Fagan said: “Exercises like this demonstrate and strengthen our ability to concentrate and integrate the capabilities of our joint forces in response to maritime challenges and contingencies.
“The events bring together component staffs and tactical units operating out of Guam, the continental US, Okinawa and bases across mainland Japan, in concert with surface assets against a threat simulated by live, high-end air and surface forces.”
BTF missions allow personnel to carry out missions across the world at any time and aid in maintaining stability and security.
It also allows the units to familiarise themselves with operations in different parts of the world.
