Reserve F-22 pilots lend expertise to Red Flag Alaska

by Capt. Ashley Conner
477th Fighter Group Public Affairs

8/24/2013 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- With more than 20 Red Flag exercises between them, Majs. Caleb Haley and Jonathan Gration are a part of a group of Air Force Reserve Command F-22 pilots from the 302nd Fighter Squadron here who bring a diversified skill set to Red Flag Alaska 13-3.

"I've been in about 10 Red Flags as an Air Force aggressor pilot," said Haley. "This is my first Red Flag on the blue side."

During his time as an aggressor pilot, Haley's job was to replicate the tactics used by enemy forces in combat situations, known as "red air". Now as a "good guy" in the "blue air", he is able to take his previous training to ensure success.

"The aggressors are very good at replicating threat countries," said Haley. "If blue air makes mistakes, the aggressors will punish those mistakes without mercy! Knowing this gets my adrenaline pumping and motivates me to be on my game every time."

Along with Haley's aggressor expertise, Gration, who graduated from the first F-22 weapon school class in 2009, brings a wealth of knowledge as one of the most experienced F-22 weapons officers in the Air Force.

"Being able to pass along lessons learned from previous exercises so we don't relearn the same lessons is important," he said. "There are a lot of pilots in the squadron that are flying in Red Flag-Alaska for the first time. It's incumbent on us old, more seasoned guys to make sure we educate the new guys."

During the two-week exercise that concluded Aug. 23, the F-22 pilots flew two or three, two and a half hour sorties, a week and mission planned on the days they weren't flying.

"Red Flag is the closest we get to simulating air combat. It provides us an opportunity to mission plan and execute a Large Force Exercise with all types of aircraft with different roles and mission sets," said Gration. "This flag is especially unique in that there are international players to include Japan, South Korea, and Australia. I hope to gain a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of all the different units so that when it comes to executing the real job one day, whether in a Joint or Combined manner, I can help the team most effectively integrate to achieve mission success."