Red Flag cyber operations: Part I - Isn't Red Flag a flyer's exercise? Published Feb. 28, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Scott McNabb 24th Air Force Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Part I: Isn't Red Flag a flyer's exercise? As Air Force Space Command dives into all that is Red Flag Feb. 21 through March 11, some might wonder, "What is it anyway and why is it important to 24th Air Force?" Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies in simulated air combat on the Nevada Test and Training Range complex. The exercise was born in the post-Vietnam era to improve combat performance by closely simulating wartime scenarios and quickly became Air Combat Command's premier tactical air training exercise, providing mission ready crews the most realistic training environment possible, outside of real operations. The life expectancy of American pilots during the operations in Vietnam increased dramatically after 10 combat missions. Red Flag gave pilots, crews and support agencies the chance to train realistically in combat situations - thus increasing their chance of survival within the first 10 days of any combat operation. Cyber and space operators have been included in the exercise in a limited capacity for nearly six years. This year, AFSPC elements were fully integrated at the tactical level from planning through execution and debrief. "Red Flag continues to adapt and advance into the future by providing advanced threats in a heavily contested and degraded operational environment," said Col. Martin Schans, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander, whose unit is charged with running the exercises. "Red Flag 11-3 is unique in that it will provide a more heavily contested and degraded operational environment than previously used through the 57th Wing's Adversary Tactics Group of professional, dedicated "aggressor" air and space forces based at Nellis Air Force Base." Colonel Schans, who's first Red Flag experience came as a young pilot in the mid 80's, said a lot has changed about the exercise since then, but the core goal of providing the best training possible to the warfighter remains the same. "I remember being overwhelmed by the information being discussed during planning, the radio communications congestion in flight, and all the aircraft flying around the range," he said. "That will not change for the young operators in Red Flag 11-3. We intentionally increase the threats as fast as the Blue team improves its execution and integration. We cannot afford to have anyone come back from a Red Flag mission and say, 'that was easy.'" The blue team is comprised of defenders whereas the red team is purposely designed to mimic aircraft, assets and capabilities of foreign nations in order to give the most realistic opposition possible. Colonel Schans said he wants every person involved in Red Flag to walk away with confidence in their equipment, weapons and personal abilities. "When overwhelmed during a combat mission they will know how to prioritize tasks to ensure their survival and increase the probability of mission success," he said. "They understand the capabilities that other weapons systems bring to an operation and how to integrate and synchronize those capabilities." The exercise is extending from two weeks to three to ensure every element gets a chance to sharpen its skills. Space and cyber are the newest kids on the block. "We know many threats around the world are working diligently to access, corrupt, or deny our use of [both unclassified and classified computer systems]," said Colonel Schans. "We are heavily reliant on networked [information technology] systems, but rarely get to have them attacked by red teams." The 57th Information Aggressor Squadron, acting as the red team, will inundate cyber operators with inputs to push them to the limit of their expertise. The unit's mission is to prepare U.S. Air Force, joint and allied personnel by replicating current and emerging threats as a professional information operations opposition force. "This opportunity will let our network defenders operate against a very proficient adversary while the Red Flag participants are relying on the availability of the networks to accomplish their tasks," said Colonel Schans. (Editor's Note: This is the first story in a series about Air Force cyber operators taking exercise inputs in Red Flag.)