WC Missouri News

Airmen from the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings recently participated in Red Flag 25-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. This annual exercise allows warfighters to train their capabilities in a realistic environment. The US Air Force collaborates with the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force units during this event, enhancing cooperation with key allies and strengthening global deterrence.

"Red Flag for us is an opportunity to take the skill sets that we hone back at home station and the things we train on every day and bring those competencies to the Joint Force in a dynamic environment,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Manglitz, commander of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and 13th Bomber Squadron.

The B-2 bomber's unique capabilities are highlighted during exercises like Red Flag, providing air crews with simulated real-world conditions to improve operational effectiveness. “The B-2 is a striker platform that brings a unique capability to penetrate deep into enemy air defenses,” Manglitz stated. “Operating in contested environments and holding high-value targets at risk in a way that other platforms simply cannot.”

During Red Flag, the B-2 operates away from its home base, allowing air crews and maintainers to practice operations with minimal resources. Captain Gabrielle Franze, maintenance officer in charge of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, explained, “Exercises like Red Flag and Bamboo Eagle give our maintenance team the chance to operate outside of our comfort zone... It challenges us to think critically, plan creatively, and become more independent.”

This approach encourages individual growth and team cohesion among Airmen, preparing them for future challenges under high-stress conditions. "The high ops tempo here at Red Flag forces us to work harder with fewer resources," Franze added.

Lt. Col. Manglitz emphasized that exercises like Red Flag demonstrate readiness: “As our Airmen return from these exercises, they do so with enhanced skills, strengthened alliances, and a renewed understanding of their role in the greater strategic picture all while being prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow today.”