A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 takes off during Distant Frontier at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Sept. 25, 2014, in preparation for Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A) 15-1. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, providing combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.