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RED FLAG 15-3
PRACTICING PERFECTION
REPORT and PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN ADAMS
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We've all heard the phrase "practice makes perfect," but it was the great Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi who really understood the key to success when he said "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect." Clearly the lesson of Lombardi's words was not lost on the United States Air Force. Celebrating its 40th year, the USAF's Red Flag exercise truly embodies Lombardi's ethos. By creating a hyper-realistic training environment in all respects, the Red Flag team, based at Nellis Air Force Base in the shadow of Las Vegas' iconic strip, has provided countless aircrew and ground crew with invaluable "perfect practice."
Held four times per year, Red Flag invites squadrons from across the USAF to participate in comprehensive exercises that cover the battle space's operational spectrum and tempo. The units invited to Red Flag come from USAF bases across the globe and often include foreign participation as well. Squadrons begin their Red Flag preparations many months in advance and those efforts pay dividends when the units finally arrive for Red Flag. Red Flag's planners try to invite each squadron in the Air Force at least once every three years.
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