News United States Air Force
 Seymour Johnson AFB tests lead wing, ACE during exercise at Kinston Regional JetportPublished Jan. 13, 2022
                        
                        
                        4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
                **SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFNS) --**
                Eight**F-15E Strike Eagles** from the **335th Fighter Squadron** and Airmen from the 4th Mission Support Group and 4th Maintenance Group assigned to **Seymour Johnson Air Force Base** participated in a lead wing and agile combat employment (ACE) exercise at Kinston Regional Jetport, Jan. 11.Aircraft taking offAn F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 335th Fighter Squadron prepares for takeoff from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 11, 2022. Eight F-15Es flew to Kinston Regional Jetport as part of a lead wing and Agile Combat Employment exercise. The 4th Fighter Wing is one of four wings from Air Combat Command that is designated as a lead wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Lynn)
            
            
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The **4th Fighter Wing** is one of four wings from **Air Combat Command** that is designated as a lead wing. The lead wing creates deployed teams composed of several Air Force operational capabilities, including a wing headquarters command and control force element, one or more mission generation force elements, and an air base squadron force element.
“Lead wings are essentially an aggregation of capabilities across our Air Force in a construct that can lead and go into any location on the globe – arriving as a previously trained and certified team and then fighting as a previously certified team,” said **Gen. Mark Kelly**, ACC commander.Aircraft taking offFour F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing taxi prior to takeoff as a part of a lead wing and Agile Combat Employment exercise from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 11, 2022. The F-15Es traveled to Kinston Regional Jetport alongside Airmen assigned to the 4th Mission Support Group and the 4th Maintenance Group. The 4th Fighter Wing is designated as a lead wing which deployed teams composed of several Air Force operational capabilities, including a wing headquarters command and control force element, one or more mission generation force elements and an air base squadron force element. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman David Lynn)
            
            
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In addition to exercising the lead wing structure, Seymour Johnson AFB exercised **ACE** elements which allows 4th FW units to forward deploy as teams into different locations that are not traditionally used.
“The ability for the 4th FW to operate from different locations with varying levels of capacity and support ensures Airmen and aircrews are postured to respond across the spectrum of military operations,” said Col. Kurt Helphinstine, 4th FW commander. “Exercising ACE ensures our aircraft and Airmen are ready to protect and defend the United States when called upon.”L/R 



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