Homeland defense goes virtual Published July 30, 2008 By Maj. David Pafford 705th CTS HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The 705th Combat Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is hundreds of miles from Hurlburt Field. But the squadron, which is part of the 505th Distributive Warfare Group at Kirtland and the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt, stays intrinsically connected through the virtual realm. The mission of the 705th CTS Distributed Mission Operations Center is to develop, integrate, and deliver a virtual air, space and cyber warfare environment for service, joint and coalition combat training, testing and experimentation. From Aug. 4-7, DMOC will host Virtual Flag 08-4, a Commander, Air Combat Command-sponsored exercise involving a variety of command and control platforms and air defense assets. "Virtual Flag is a superb example of how we're using cutting-edge technology to provide a highly realistic scenario for a training audience that spans the entire Department of Defense, and who are able to participate from their home stations," said Col. Jack Shanahan, 505th CCW commander. Virtual Flag provides fighter, command and control, and U.S. Army units the opportunity to train and prepare for a variety of homeland defense missions as part of Operation Noble Eagle. Participating aircraft and systems include the E-3, F-16C, F-15C, HH-65, Avenger, Eastern and Western Air Defense Sector Surveillance Units and headquarters elements of U.S. Northern Command and 1st Air Force, to include the 601st Air and Space Operations Center at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The training objectives of each organization are integrated within Virtual Flag to enhance readiness for a mission vital to national security. The exercise focuses on the latest Noble Eagle tactics, techniques and procedures used to defend the continental United States. From various distributed sites, exercise participants will plan, brief and debrief together via video teleconference, voice over internet communications, and shared playback software allowing them to train in a highly realistic scenario. "This exercise directly supports the Air Force mission to fly, fight and win by ensuring our warfighters effectively integrate on the battlefield from the tactical to the operational levels," said Col. John Horner, 505th DWG commander. This exercise boasts numerous firsts for Virtual Flags. U.S. NORTHCOM, 1st Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard are participating for the first time, while deployable homeland air and missile defense and Defense Red Switch Network systems are being integrated into the exercise. Realism, growth in training capability and continuous improvement are hallmarks of the Virtual Flag series and will continue with this exercise. Each exercise provides America's warriors with a new opportunity to sharpen their abilities to defend U.S. interests, both at home and abroad. "This event marks another milestone in the evolution of the Air Force's vision for live-virtual-constructive simulation training in the homeland defense mission arena," said Lt. Col. Troy Molendyke, 705th CTS commander. (Editor's note: 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article.)