US-led exercise offers unique Royal Canadian Air Force unique training opportunities

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 34th Combat Training Squadron worked closely with the Royal Canadian Air Force during Green Flag Little Rock 17-04 Feb. 9 -19, 2017, while staged at Little Rock Air Force Base and Alexandria, Louisiana.

GFLR, one of Air Mobility Command’s largest rotational exercises, is an opportunity for U.S. forces to collaborate with coalition forces. In this iteration, the RCAF participated with two C-130Js and approximately 70 personnel.

“Developing aircrews and all support personnel to operate more effectively with our allies is one of the things we look forward to when we participate in GFLR,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Gerald Fraser, 436 Transport Squadron deputy commanding officer.

Similar to U.S. Air Force, RCAF aircrews underwent tactical-training such as re-tasking to execute on-call resupply airdrops; search and rescue operations; and survival, evasion, resistance and escape scenarios.  

“I’m looking forward to seeing our younger personnel return with more experience in different and challenging roles,” Fraser said.

The 436th TS conducts joint training with their allies three-to-four times per year. This experience enables the RCAF to develop opportunities to integrate better with their coalition partners.

“Building relationships and developing trust amongst our allies are things we take away from our training,” Fraser said.

Although GFLR provides essential tactical-level training, the experience of working with international partners is also vital to the theater.

“Our coalition partners are crucial to the overall success of contingency operations around the world," said U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Brown, 19th Airlift Wing commander. "The participation of our international partners in GFLR provides each nation a broader perspective on the capabilities and limitations we each bring to the theater."