Gunfighter Flag 18-1 kicks off

An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off during Gunfighter Flag Dec. 11, 2017, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Gunfighter Flag is a quarterly training exercise bringing multiple military branches to the Saylor Creek range for joint training oppertunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeremy D. Wolff)

Gunfighter Flag 18-1 kicks off

Senior Airman Travon Taylor, 389th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew cheif, prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for takeoff during Gunfighter Flag Dec. 11, 2017, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Maintainers play an integral role in exercises like Gunfighter Flag, making sure the aircraft are ready for flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jeremy D. Wolff)

Gunfighter Flag 18-1 kicks off

Published Dec. 12, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Jeremy D. Wolff
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Gunfighter Flag 18-1 simulates joint service operations that might be encountered in a deployed environment.

"Every Gunfighter Flag is unique," said Lt. Col. David Och, 389th Fighter Squadron commander. "Each time we execute a Gunfighter Flag we bring in a different mix of aircraft, from a wide breadth of platforms, from inside and outside the Air Force."

Marines, Navy and Army National Guard join the 366th Fighter Wing, combining their efforts with eight different air frames, working together to conquer a number of different scenarios.

"Gunfighter Flag is an opportunity to flex our composite force training capability and train not only our Airmen, but sailors, soldiers, and Marines as well," said Col. Joe Kunkel, 366th Fighter Wing commander. "We host one of the Air Force's best training complexes; Mountain Home's air defense radar threat simulations are second to none."