First Agile Combat Employment Exercise Takes Place in Michigan

U.S. Air National Guard Airmen and aircraft from around the country are conducting the first Air National Guard Readiness Exercise Program event, Agile Rage 22 (AR). This exercise is hosted by the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, part of the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Northern Michigan, June 4-18.

Agile Rage focuses on Air National Guard training priorities and future warfighting concepts. Most notably, AR brings to the forefront Agile Combat Employment (ACE) capabilities and tests Airmen in an austere combat environment.

Exercises similar to Agile Rage 22 are redefining Air Force operations, prioritizing decentralized command and control and distributed military operations.

Uniting several hundred Airmen from across the country, Agile Rage will validate proficiency in mission-essential tasks such as joint intelligence operations, airspace control, search and rescue coordination, intra-theater airlift, close air support and Agile Combat Employment. Air Force Special Warfare will also integrate assets via long-range digital and voice communications to enhance targeting and intelligence capabilities in a Large Scale Combat Operational environment.

“Northern Michigan is one of the best places in the nation to test the agility of our force,” said Brig. Gen. Bryan Teff, assistant adjutant general and Michigan Air National Guard commander. “Michigan is a champion for ACE and we are proud to host the first-ever iteration of Agile Rage, which leverages our state’s unique partnerships, training environment and ample resources to prepare for today’s fight, posture for future missions, and stay one step ahead of our adversaries.”

Air National Guard aircraft participating in Agile Rage 22 include the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130J Hercules, and the MQ-9 Reaper. Additionally, elements from Special Tactics, Tactical Air Control Parties, Tactical Air Control Squadron, Combat Communications units, and other supporting elements round out the fighting force.

Agile Rage 22 emphasizes the use of ACE, the ability to project combat power anytime, anywhere, to complicate an adversary’s decision making.

To exercise these concepts, participating aircraft will redeploy at short notice to Volk Field, Wisconsin, during portions of Agile Rage 22 and perform integrated combat turns. An ICT enables the quick rearming and refueling of a running jet to reduce the aircrew’s ground time and get them back in the air.