Warbirds return to nest from Eagle Flag exercise Published Oct. 26, 2006 By Senior Airman Danny Monahan Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- LAKEHURST NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING STATION, N.J. - Approximately 150 Team Minot Airmen returned from a successful one-week deployment Oct. 20 after fighting the Global War on Terrorism and providing humanitarian relief in the country of Chimera in the southwest Karde region. Many have never heard of the country, nor the continent and there is a reason why. More than 350 Airmen from Air Combat Command bases were sent to Lakehurst Naval Air Station, N.J. from Oct. 12 to 20 for the exercise Eagle Flag. Eagle Flag is a deployment exercise where Airmen in a fictional country within a fictional continent establish a deployed air base while being fired upon (simulated), calming local protests, learning foreign customs and traditions and much more. "The focus of today's Air Force is expeditionary, and many of our most important missions take place in a deployed location," said Lt. Col. Lisa McColgan, 5th Services commander and Eagle Flag deputy group commander. "To ensure success, the Air Force has developed the Eagle Flag exercise. Eagle Flag is a very realistic and excellent field training exercise allowing expeditionary Airmen the opportunity to test their ability to open and establish an air base and provide initial command and control. Not only are participants totally reliant upon themselves to succeed, but they are also thrown into scenarios which challenge the flexibility of the planning team." Establishing a bare base is no easy feat. Setting up billeting, supplies and communication are difficult enough, but the Eagle Flag participants had to complete their mission through very harsh conditions. "Challenges were abundant with below-freezing temperatures, rain, mud and exhaustion testing our team but, throughout the entire exercise, wingmen took care of one another and overcame all obstacles," said Colonel McColgan. Wingmen taking care of one another equals teamwork, which was the key ingredient to the success of Eagle Flag, according to Colonel McColgan. "Learning to work together effectively with Airmen from 11 bases was paramount to establishing solid plans and carrying out those plans," she said. "Teamwork, enthusiastic and contagious positive attitudes, and Airmen dedicated to doing the best work possible resulted in total success for our team. When anyone needed a pick-me-up, someone was always there to provide it." The most rewarding aspect of the exercise was seeing all the Airmen come together to produce an air base as one cohesive unit, according to Col. Glenn Lang, 5th Mission Support Group commander and Eagle Flag group commander. "Our Air Force is lucky to have individuals with a sense of dedication to the mission that transcends the elements when the pressure is on," said Colonel Lang. "The Airmen at Eagle Flag were no exception to that and the will to succeed in our mission made them overcome the nasty weather and the initial living conditions. They could see our camp rising before them and knew we were on a path to success. With hot meals and showers, the initial stings were soothed and the team rejuvenated. I am proud of each and every participant for a job well done. The dedication and spirit were evident everywhere."