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Iwakuni Gets Knee Deep in Northern Edge 2009

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090620-07
Release Date: 6/20/2009 11:41:00 AM

By U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Miller, Alaskan Command Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (NNS) -- Exercise Northern Edge 2009 officially kicked off at Elmendorf Air Force Base and numerous locations across the massive training grounds of Alaska June 15.

Participants from all branches of the military are training together in order to hone their tactics, techniques and procedures associated with defensive counter-air, close-air support, air interdiction of marine targets and personnel recovery missions.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is supporting the evolution at Eielson Air Force Base with various components of personnel including Marines and Sailors with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 headquarters, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 , Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, and augmentees from headquarters and headquarters squadron such as the Provost Marshal's Office and Public Affairs.

Additional Marines are also supporting from Marine Air Control Squadron 4 out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Also from Futenma, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 is operating at Elmendorf Air Force Base. In all, approximately 290 Marines and Sailors from 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force are participating.

"Northern Edge is MAG 12's best opportunity to get together with the Navy and Air Force to practice advanced tactics in missions that are similar to what we would have to do here in the Pacific area of operations," said Lt. Col. James Walker, MAG 12 operations officer. "We work with large forces here, 50 to 60 aircraft at a time, and that's not something we get to do on a daily basis. So this is a good opportunity for MAG 12 to train in a tactical enviornment."

Although the event is headquartered out of Elmendorf Air Force Base, activities are taking place across Alaska in order to prepare joint forces to respond to crises in the Asian Pacific region.

According to Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, commanding general of Alaskan Command and 11th Air Force, being able to train here is valuable because there are more than 65,000 square miles of available training space over land, and 120,000 when including the Gulf of Alaska.

"Northern Edge is the premier exercise conducted within the Pacific Command's area of responsibility," said Atkins. "It lets our joint warfighters learn about each other."

Exercise Northern Edge is an 11-day exercise and is scheduled to conclude June 26.

For more news from Pacific Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cpf/.