Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (July 27, 2023): The United States enjoys air superiority, not just because of its advanced aircraft, but also through the skillful use of the shovel and the trowel. Because of U.S. advanced air power, the enemy will likely target our airfields to keep the fleet on the ground. In this photo by Senior Airman Madelyn Keech, an Airmen assigned to the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron, the 151st, and 176th CES put out a controlled fire on an F-15 Eagle replica during the Air Force Silver Flag mission qualification course.

Silver Flag teaches civil engineers the skills to do a large-scale base recovery and rapid airfield damage recovery operations (RADR).

RADR is a process that ensures that if a major airfield is attacked, Airmen will have the tools and knowledge to get the airfield back in operation as quickly as possible. The task is complicated by unexploded bombs that must be neutralized before repairing craters or facility damage can begin.

The Silver Flag course teaches Airmen the skills to respond to a base attack including simulated dummy artillery shells representing unexploded ordnance scattered across the airfield. Participants begin with an initial site survey using sophisticated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to scan the runway mapping damage and to locate explosives for disposal. Next, civil engineers develop a plan to rapidly return the airfield to full operation while minimizing the risk to field personnel.

This year’s training, hosted by the 435th Construction and Training Squadron, allowed more than 150 members from civil engineer, force support, and vehicle maintenance career fields to earn their RADR certification, a requirement for civil engineers every three years or before a deployment.

Participating in this year’s Silver Flag exercises were Airmen assigned to the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, Air National Guard Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 151st Civil Engineer Squadron, Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah, and 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron, and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.