Red Flag training exercise 08-04 kicked off yesterday at Nellis AFB, Nev., and will run through Aug. 22. This iteration of the nation’s premier annual air combat training event includes the first participation of the Indian and South Korean air forces. The Indians brought their SU-30MKI multirole fighters, while the South Koreans have flown in their new F-15Ks. French Rafale fighters are also participating, along with USAF C-17s, E-3 AWACS, EC-130s, F-15s, F-16s, and KC-135s. Navy EA-6Bs are also included as are French C-130s and Indian IL-76/78 tankers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent direction that the military services return to a more old-school approach to basic training—with instructors "tossing bunks" and "putting their hands on recruits”—will likely require the Air Force to rewrite policies for military training instructors it has modified over time to cut down on such…
