вЂњItвЂ™s a good experience to become more proficient in the work we do in a comprehensive way. вЂњWhereas my job in the Army usually had me in mobile towers, directing traffic from maybe a dirt strip off the flight line, here we direct traffic from a fixed point with aircraft that IвЂ™m not used to seeing,вЂќ he said. While the culture of the Army and Air Force might differ in certain respects, the mission doesnвЂ™t, and that opens up the opportunity to help better integrate the joint force, McKnight said. Russell McKnight, 152nd Aviation Batallion air traffic controller stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, is one such Soldier. Army also sent some of their own to train with their U.S. In addition to the myriad Air Force units represented at RED FLAG, the U.S. RED FLAG helps us keep our operations seamless so that us being ready isnвЂ™t a matter of вЂwe will be,вЂ™ but вЂwe are.вЂ™вЂќ Whether aircraft take-off and land safely is really up to us, and if there are cracks or flaws in our processes, the results can be dire. вЂњLives depend on the information we give the pilots. вЂњRED FLAG is 100 percent as beneficial for us as it is for pilots,вЂќ said Senior Airman Mark Landers, 354th OSS ATC. Just as heat is used to temper steel, so too is RED FLAG used to sharpen the proficiencies of ATCs.ДЄlthough primarily an advanced aerial combat training exercise, the benefits of the otherwise pilot-centric scenarios also impact agencies that support them, like ATC.

From managing our manning needs in order to cover day and night operations to staying current on our training, we put the mechanisms in place to ensure our people donвЂ™t feel overwhelmed.вЂќ вЂњ210 flights a day is a lot and a uptick from our non-RED FLAG operations, but we put in the work to make sure we stay cool under that kind of pressure. вЂњThereвЂ™s really no two ways about it,вЂќ said Staff Sgt.

With an average of 210 flights taking off and landing a day during RF-A, the 354th Operations Support Squadron ATCs have their hands full, but for them, itвЂ™s all in a dayвЂ™s work.

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