NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AP) — Southern Nevada residents will be seeing more military aircraft flying overhead for the next two weeks as the Air Force begins a series of battle exercises known as Green Flag West.
Missions start at Fort Irwin, Calif., and fly over the Las Vegas Valley, to and from Nellis Air Force Base, near Mount Charleston, and north of Pahrump. The exercise runs from 1 p.m. to 10:40 p.m. this week and 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. next week.
Officials say Green Flag West provides a realistic training environment for airmen and soldiers preparing to deploy in Southwest Asia. It replicates irregular warfare conditions like those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Robert Chavez of 549th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis calls it the premier training exercise for airmen preparing for combat.
People living around Nellis Air Force Base will notice more military aircraft for the next two weeks as pilots take part in Green Flag West.
The exercises started September 9 and will go through September 23. During the first week, training will be conducted from 1 p.m. until just before 11 p.m. The second week, training will be from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The flight paths include the Las Vegas Valley, the National Training Center, Mt. Charleston and Pahrump.
Green Flag West provides realistic training for airmen and soldiers. It provides troops with real-world conditions experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is conducted by the 549th Combat Training Squadron out of Nellis and the 12th Combat Training Squadron at Fort Irwin, California.
"Green Flag is an invaluable asset," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Terry Ferrell, NTC commanding general. "The aspects of Green Flag--from fighter to jammer to air-refuel capability employed--ensure they can achieve the training objectives they need to reach, and we see how they are going to employ in various conditions."
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