The US Air Force (USAF) has started the joint training exercise, Northern Edge 2015, bringing around 6,000 US Military ervice members together in a joint-forces environment.
The exercise will be conducted by Alaskan Command. It will see the presence of approximately 200 military aircraft and is aimed to train the force for crises response in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
It is designed to strengthen tactical combat skills; enhance command, control and communication relationships; and to develop interoperable plans and programmes across the joint force.
Northern Edge 2015 Air Expeditionary Wing commander and the 3rd Wing commander colonel Charles Corcoran said: "Northern Edge is the premier combat exercise for joint forces … anywhere in the world."
"The objective is to make sure our air combat forces are ready as a joint team and to be able to execute real-world operations anywhere in the Pacific."
Participating units in the exercise include US Pacific Command, Alaskan Command, US Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and the US Army Pacific, as well as Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command and US Naval Reserve.
According to the Northern Edge control group lead lieutenant colonel Tim Bobinski, this exercise will help the US Military take advantage of a unique joint training environment to be prepared to respond to real-world situations.
Bobinski said: "It’s really important to train like we are going to fight.
"As most people know, anytime we go to war it’s not going to be just the air force, navy, army or marines, we are going to need to work together as a team."
Image: An F-15C Eagle takes off during exercise Northern Edge from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force photo / Staff Sgt William Banton.
