505th CCW raises Blue Flag for combat training

505th Command and Control Wing

1/7/2013 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- During military exercises, realism and dynamic response are essential for proper training.

For air operations centers and Air Force forces staffs, the place to look for realistic operational-level command and control continuation training is the 505th Combat Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

As part of the 505th Command and Control Wing, the 505th CTS participates in more than 15 joint and multi-national exercises annually.

"The squadron plans and executes realistic scenario events in a constructive environment," said Lt. Col. Glen Shilland, 505th CTS commander. "We emulate higher headquarters staff functions, provide dynamic feedback with professional model and simulation controllers, and deliver high-fidelity targeting and collection reporting inputs with our talented intel flight."

The 505th Communications Squadron and other distributed simulation centers enable this training through the Joint Training Enterprise Network and other joint model and simulations federations.

Blue Flag is the premier training event planned and executed by the 505th CTS. As the name suggests, they have a similar goal to Red Flag exercises - to replicate the first 10 days of combat in a realistic environment.

Where Red Flags are an advanced tactical combat training exercise, Blue Flags enable command and control decision-making for joint and combined air component commanders and their staffs at the operational level of war.

"Since the exercise inception in 1976, Blue Flag planners have tried to duplicate theater conditions and procedures as closely as possible," Shilland said. "They do this by researching friendly and enemy force structures, communications capabilities, logistics support, command and control procedures and current plans and directives."

Squadron personnel rely on theater advisors for exercise scenario validation and proper headquarters and wartime C2 structure allocation.

Using a fictional environment centered on an island named Westland, the 505th CTS provides an infinite variety of situations where training audiences can develop and execute contingency plans to evaluate the readiness of people, processes and systems.

Most recently, the 505th CTS provided essential support for Austere Challenge 12, the largest US-Israeli military exercise ever. The squadron enabled realistic, integrated air and missile defense training for 4,500 U.S. and Israeli forces in live, virtual and constructive environments.

U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Honorable Daniel Shapiro, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, visited deployed 505th CTS personnel during the exercise. Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin, commander of the 3rd Air Force, personally recognized Rick Ruppard and others for their outstanding support.