As part of readying to deploy for the first time since their arrival at Moody, Airmen from the 23rd Fighter Group and the 23rd Maintenance Group are participating in a week-long Green Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

More than 300 personnel from the 75th Fighter Squadron and 23rd MXG along with all the equipment necessary to support the A-10 mission will take part in Green Flag March 24-28.

The joint Army/Air Force exercise gives airmen and soldiers the chance to work together in deployed, life-like scenarios. These scenarios help develop the skills to function efficiently and successfully before deploying to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

“The exercise is designed to fit the specific needs of the close combat support mission as well as the forward air controller airborne,” said Capt. Tim Fitzpatrick, 75th FS chief of weapons and tactics. “Our mission there is to support our Army ground troops by either reactive firepower or destroying high-value targets before they become a threat.”

Mock-village scenarios, along with role-players who act as insurgents, townsfolk and media, lend to the realism of Green Flag.

Army patrols, along with embedded Joint terminal attack controllers, enter a village where there may be enemy activity. The soldiers interact with the community and perform a cordon search to locate high-value targets.

At that time, the JTAC would call in an aerial over-watch of A-10 aircraft to escort convoys or perform forward reconnaissance. If a target is identified, the A-10’s provide close air support and reactive firepower for troops being engaged.

“One of the many benefits of Green Flag is that it allows us to drop live weapons on target,” said Captain Fitzpatrick. “This adds to the already life-like scenarios that Green Flag presents to the close combat community.”

Green Flag gives airmen a chance to experience what a full deployment might be like before they head down range.

“We don’t have many opportunities to work side-by-side with other services before being thrown into joint-task operations while deployed,” said Captain Fitzpatrick.

“This gives us the opportunity to incorporate the unique aspects of the A-10C Thunderbolt II mission with the ground-troops mission before shipping out.”