First Red Flag Exercise In Three Years For 9th Bomb Squadron

The U.S Air Force’s 9th Bomb Squadron, flying B-1B Lancers out of Dyess Air Force Base in central Texas, recently completed its first Red Flag exercise in three years at the Red Flag-Nellis 25-3, the Air Force’s premier combat training event held at Nellis AFB in Nevada.

The exercise was significant for the unit, who utilized a hybrid operations model that featured daily mission profiles called VULs or vulnerability periods flown from the home station while mission planning cell (MPC) specialist teams operated from Nellis.

Lt. Col. Ashley Cook, 9th Bomb Squadron Commander said, “This Red Flag has been a milestone for the Bats. Not only is it our first Red Flag in three years, but we demonstrated how the B-1 can deliver combat power flexibly by launching from Dyess while seamlessly integrating with joint and coalition forces launching from Nellis.”

During the Red Flag exercise, aircrews flew daily sorties from Dyess to Nevada and executed simulated strike missions in a contested, high-threat environment. Midway through, B-1s landed at Nellis AFB for hot-pit refueling and swapping aircrews to permit a second MPC to plan and execute the last phase of the exercise.

Lt. Col. Cook said, “The ability to fly from home station while executing advanced planning with a dislocated MPC team shows how we’re evolving to meet future combat scenarios. Exercises like this prepare us to be more agile to practice how we would employ against today’s threats.”

Capt. Nicole Sorrells, 9th BS flight commander said, “This is one of the first chances our new aviators get to experience a true Large Force Exercise. It’s nothing like flying local sorties; we’re face-to-face with other squadrons and partners we’d deploy with. That’s where real integration happens.”

“Executing VULs from Dyess while relying on a forward-planning team means everything must be dialed in — mission briefs, takeoff times, airspace control. It’s logistically complex, but it shows what’s possible,” she added.

FMI:  www.af.mil/