Exercises - Air Force

The Air Force conducts three Red Flag/Green Flag exercises annually at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. In addition to providing training for Navy/Marine Corps and coalition forces, these exercises provide composite force package training for Air Force tactical aircraft squadrons on about an 18-month rotational basis. Air Force units conduct similar training in annual Maple Flag combined-force exercises held in Canada.

Historically, logistics play in US Air Force Computer Assisted Exercises (CAXs) has been characterized by scripted scenarios with little or no impact on the operational tempo of the exercise. These scripted events, dissociated from operational realm, strain the credibility of exercises already judged lacking in realism. Lack of realistic training is universally recognized as detrimental to force readiness. Commanders and staffs need to train as they plan to fight. Today, the need for realistic training becomes even more acute as the Air Force moves to an Expeditionary Air Force doctrine and at the same time, contingency commitments increase while manning and training resources spiral downward. The Air Force addressed the need for enhancing CAX realism through development of the Logistic Simulation (LOGSIM). Fulfilling the requirement for increased "Logistics Realism" will help ensure Joint Forces Air Component Commander (JFACC), Air Force Forces (AFFOR), and Wing Operations Center (WOC) training objectives can be met by LOGSIM.