9th Bomb Squadron participates in Green Flag exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  More than 130 Airmen from the 9th Bomb Squadron and 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit departed Dyess Sept. 8 to participate in the two-week Green Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Sept. 8-23.

Green Flag is an exercise designed to prepare the Air Force and Army for upcoming deployments. The 2.5-week exercise, pilots say, stresses realistic combat training, replicates irregular warfare conditions found in overseas contingency areas of responsibility, and gives pilots an unscripted battle exercise and training not available at any other base.

"Green Flag's purpose is to afford an opportunity for combat aircrew and ground personnel from the United States and our allies to hone their close air support skills," said Capt. Ryan Meiergerd, 9th Bomb Squadron pilot. "CAS essentially allows ground combatant commanders to deliver timely and deliberate weapon effects from aircraft orbiting above in order to achieve their ground objectives."

The soldiers the bomb squadron will support in Green Flag will also be the ones they support in Southwest, Asia.

"I'm looking forward to implementing the procedures I spent the last year and a half learning in direct support to personnel on the ground," Meiergerd, said. "It is a great feeling to finally be able to utilize the skill set I have been endeavoring to learn and perfect throughout my training. Green Flag is a vital step for building the foundation for a successful deployment."

While at Green Flag the squadron will also work on air-to-air refueling, sniper pod skills and show-of- force.