WC Missouri News

Warfighters from the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, along with coalition partners from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, recently concluded Exercise Bamboo Eagle. This advanced training exercise was designed to evaluate their capabilities in a contested environment.

"Bamboo Eagle provides us an opportunity to realign with this warrior ethos mentality," stated Lt. Col. Joseph Manglitz, commander of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and the 13th Bomb Squadron. "When we're able to succeed in those environments, that really bolsters this warrior ethos, and I can see it all across our unit."

The exercise featured scenarios involving simulated adversaries and focused on rapid mission generation and command and control, preparing Airmen for various combat situations. The training aims to equip Airmen for the evolving battlespace.

"Warfare is going in a new direction," commented Capt. Gabrielle Franze, maintenance officer in charge of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. "We are not going to fight the way we fought for years in the past. We need to be more dynamic, more flexible, able to think through problems, and trust ourselves to make the decisions we need to make."

The exercise offered opportunities for Airmen to refine their problem-solving skills and operate effectively under different battle conditions. The constantly changing training environment encouraged participants to adapt.

Manglitz emphasized that Airmen must rely on their training when adapting to high-stress environments during real-world missions. They gain confidence from knowing they have practiced their skills in dynamic settings like Bamboo Eagle.

"Every person has risen to the occasion and really embraced the warrior ethos to try to push the envelope of what we thought we were capable of," said Franze. "I'm leaving with a lot more confidence that we're going to be able to take on anything that gets set in front of us in the future."

By refining their abilities under pressure during exercises like Bamboo Eagle, Airmen have pushed their limits and shown adaptability, ensuring readiness for delivering conventional and nonconventional global strike capabilities anytime, anywhere.