Red Flag-Rescue returns to advance premier training

  • Published
  • 355th Wing Public Affairs

Tucson residents may notice an increase in unfamiliar military aircraft operating out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, during exercise Red Flag Rescue 21-2, Aug. 5-20, 2021.

Red Flag-Rescue is the Department of Defense’s premier combat search and rescue exercise. The exercise provides advanced, realistic and relevant air-to-surface integration warfighter training in a robust contested, degraded and operationally limited environment.

“The U.S. Air Force executes challenging and diverse missions across the globe and Personnel Recovery is critical to that success. Airmen often partner with the joint force and our allies to rescue isolated personnel,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Allen, 414th Combat Training Squadron Detachment 1 commander. “This recurring training is vital to ensure the DOD, the Air Force, and our multi-national partners are ready to execute CSAR and bring our personnel home.”

The two-week exercise will include units from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and allied partners. While participating aircraft will be operating out of Davis-Monthan, the exercise scenarios will be conducted in military training areas located in Southern Arizona and New Mexico. 

“CSAR remains a fundamental capability and Red Flag-Rescue is the best in the business at providing large-force training that is focused on this mission,” said Allen.

Davis-Monthan remains in Health Protection Condition Bravo and all exercise participants will adhere to COVID-19 mitigation policies in line with DOD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local guidance.