Air Force Reserve Command’s 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport/ARS, Minn., joined forces with the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, at Ft. Richardson, Alaska, to ensure both are getting the most out of Red Flag-Alaska 06-2. The 934th AW began coordinating with the Army unit nearly nine months ago, teaming with the 4-25th ABCT shortly after its stand-up. During the exercise, which used to be called Cope Thunder, 934th ARW C-130s delivered approximately 1,000 of the nearly 3,500 soldiers to Allen Army Air Field, Alaska. Wing officials say the exercise afforded them the opportunity to get a year’s worth of training in two weeks.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.