News United States Air Force
 Agile Flag 23-1 brings together ACC, AMC, total force partners for Lead Wing certificationPublished March 13, 2023
                        
                        By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards, Air Combat Command Public Affairs
                **SAVANNAH, Ga. (AFNS) --**
                Agile Flag 23-1 concluded March 7, which tested the 366th Fighter Wing’s, ability to act as a **Lead Wing** and conduct agile combat employment operations in a flag-level contributing certifying exercise.
Agile Flag is the latest U.S. Air Force investment in capabilities that enables Lead Wings to operate at the speed, scope, complexity, and scale needed in a modern-day threat environment. The exercise focuses on increasing survivability and combat lethality through dispersion, flexibility, resiliency, agility and mission command. The essence of the exercise is the utilization of six different airfields to execute a continuous rapid scheme of maneuvers to complicate a threat’s decision process.Members of the 366th Fighter Wing in-process for exercise Agile Flag 23-1, after landing at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 28, 2023. As the Lead Wing, the 366th FW commanded a mission generation force element from the 388th FW and integrated with mobility air assets to deliver combat air power all while operating from dispersed location with contested logistics in a dynamic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Members of the 366th Fighter Wing in-process for exercise Agile Flag 23-1, after landing at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 28, 2023. As the Lead Wing, the 366th FW commanded a mission generation force element from the 388th FW and integrated with mobility air assets to deliver combat air power all while operating from dispersed location with contested logistics in a dynamic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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    Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing prepare for two F-35A Lightning IIs for takeoff during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. Agile Flag is Air Combat Command’s contributing certifying event for its Lead Wings throughout the Air Force Force Generation cycle, ensuring they are agile combat employment-capable forces that meet combatant commanders’ needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing prepare for two F-35A Lightning IIs for takeoff during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. Agile Flag is Air Combat Command’s contributing certifying event for its Lead Wings throughout the Air Force Force Generation cycle, ensuring they are agile combat employment-capable forces that meet combatant commanders’ needs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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    Tech. Sgt. Alexander Rogers, 366th Force Support Squadron assistant dining facility manager, checks on the food supply during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. The 366th Fighter Wing acted as the Lead Wing for the exercise, which is a tailorable force package assembled prior to deployment with a designated commander, special staff, mission generation force element and air base force element. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Tech. Sgt. Alexander Rogers, 366th Force Support Squadron assistant dining facility manager, checks on the food supply during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. The 366th Fighter Wing acted as the Lead Wing for the exercise, which is a tailorable force package assembled prior to deployment with a designated commander, special staff, mission generation force element and air base force element. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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“Agile Flag makes us think about training differently,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Orsua, **Air Combat Command** Agile Flag 23-1 exercise director. “We need to train like we fight ... and the skillsets that many of our supporting agency’s practice on a daily basis are not going to pass the test in a future conflict.Lt. Col. Brandon Mackay, 366th Fighter Wing chief of staff, receives a welcome brief for Agile Flag 23-1, after landing at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 28, 2023. Agile Flag 23-1 tested the 366th FW’s ability to utilize their staff to generate combat air power while continuing to move, maneuver and sustain the wing and subordinate force elements in a dynamic and contested environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Lt. Col. Brandon Mackay, 366th Fighter Wing chief of staff, receives a welcome brief for Agile Flag 23-1, after landing at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 28, 2023. Agile Flag 23-1 tested the 366th FW’s ability to utilize their staff to generate combat air power while continuing to move, maneuver and sustain the wing and subordinate force elements in a dynamic and contested environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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“Agile Flag is an entirely different focus than other Air Force flag exercises. We have historically thought of flying as the operational side of the Air Force, and that’s essentially the aim of our famed Red Flag; perfecting the flying capabilities by integrating across major commands to solve peer threat. Agile Flag is different. Agile Flag is operationalizing other enabling disciplines such as logistics, maintenance, personal accountability and communications. What does a supporting agency, like flight line maintenance, need to do differently to minimize signatures and increase survivability in a robust threat environment? That’s Agile Flag!”
The 366th FW from **Mountain Home Air Force Base**, Idaho, along with Airmen from several other units, tackled the challenges of generating combat air power through contested logistics, disrupted command, control and communications, and dispersed base defense.
The 366th FW combined its own readiness mission with several other units to include **Hill AFB**’s **F-35A Lightning II** fighter operations, three **Air National Guard** units’ airlift capabilities, the 820th Base Defense Group’s expertise in security, and other components from various wings in order to execute agile operations throughout the exercise.
“As a Lead Wing, we organize, train and equip together every day, but now we are bringing in these additional capabilities and building a team across our base cluster,” said **Col. Ernesto DiVittorio**, 366th FW commander. “The Airmen that participated in Agile Flag 23-1 absolutely crushed it. I couldn’t be prouder of the job they did. I don’t just mean the members of the 366th Fighter Wing, but our partners. We were agile, flexible, we reacted real time to the threats that were presented to us, and we kept our adversaries confused with how we were going to present our airpower constantly.”Barry Aston, Manning Aviation lineman, carries a fuel hose to a F-35A Lightning II in support of Agile Flag 23-1 at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. Utilizing the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, the Lead Wing simulated operating out of a contingency location consistent with Agile Combat Employment doctrine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Barry Aston, Manning Aviation lineman, carries a fuel hose to a F-35A Lightning II in support of Agile Flag 23-1 at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. Utilizing the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, the Lead Wing simulated operating out of a contingency location consistent with Agile Combat Employment doctrine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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To replicate a realistic threat picture for the Lead Wing, exercise players simulated physical oppositional forces as well as a synthetic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability. While the Lead Wing worked to deploy into and out of a dynamic combat environment as an agile force package, a **15th Air Force** certification team assessed how the wing conducted their mission essential tasks throughout degraded environments.
“In the past we’ve met on the battlefield as disaggregated units,” said Maj. Eric LaPrade, 15th AF current operations chief and Agile Flag 23-1 certification team lead. “Now, the Lead Wing brings the command and control, air base squadron, and mission generation force elements together as a cohesive warfighting team to give us a decisive advantage. Agile Flag gives an opportunity for 15th AF to certify a lethal and agile fighting unit to make sure our forces are ready for conflict, before conflict begins.”
The conclusion of the exercise provided ACC and 15th AF with data to continue refining Lead Wing mission essential tasks in preparation for the next iteration of Agile Flag in summer of 2023.Lt. Col. Maxwell Harrell, 388th Fighter Wing inspector general, secures an F-35A Lightning II side panel prior to takeoff at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. The 4th Fighter Squadron acted as the mission generation force element in a Lead Wing led by the 366th FW during exercise Agile Flag 23-1, Air Combat Command’s contributing certifying event for its Lead Wings throughout the Air Force Force Generation cycle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Lt. Col. Maxwell Harrell, 388th Fighter Wing inspector general, secures an F-35A Lightning II side panel prior to takeoff at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. The 4th Fighter Squadron acted as the mission generation force element in a Lead Wing led by the 366th FW during exercise Agile Flag 23-1, Air Combat Command’s contributing certifying event for its Lead Wings throughout the Air Force Force Generation cycle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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    An F-35A Lightning II takes off during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. Utilizing a lead wing structure, Agile Flag 23-1 focuses on agile combat employment which is a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)An F-35A Lightning II takes off during Agile Flag 23-1, at the Air Dominance Center, a combat readiness training center, in Savannah, Ga., March 1, 2023. Utilizing a lead wing structure, Agile Flag 23-1 focuses on agile combat employment which is a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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    Lt. Col. Maxwell Harrell, 388th Fighter Wing inspector general, and Capt. Nicholas Gossner, 4th Fighter Squadron pilot, check F-35A Lightning II procedures after landing at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. Harrell and Gossner performed some crew chiefs’ duties leaning into the multi-capable Airmen concept of accomplishing tasks outside of their core Air Force specialty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)Lt. Col. Maxwell Harrell, 388th Fighter Wing inspector general, and Capt. Nicholas Gossner, 4th Fighter Squadron pilot, check F-35A Lightning II procedures after landing at Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in Brunswick, Ga., March 5, 2023. Harrell and Gossner performed some crew chiefs’ duties leaning into the multi-capable Airmen concept of accomplishing tasks outside of their core Air Force specialty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Edwards)
            
            
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Future iterations of Agile Flag will remain a key contributing event toward certifying ACC’s Lead Wings to be ready and resilient forces as the command progresses towards initial operating capability for the Combat Air Force **Force Generation model**.LR 



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