DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) —
Airmen and B-1B Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base recently wrapped up a dynamic showing supporting exercise Red Flag-Nellis 25-3, the U.S. Air Force’s premier combat training event held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 21–31.
The exercise marked a significant return for Dyess AFB bombers, who employed a hybrid operations model featuring daily mission profiles—known as “VULs” or vulnerability periods—flown from home station, while mission planning cell teams operated from Nellis. The model showcased the B-1’s operational agility and reinforced Dyess AFB’s ability to execute dynamic force employment.
“This Red Flag has been a milestone for the Bats,” said Lt. Col. Ashley Cook, 9th Bomb Squadron commander. “Not only is it our first Red Flag in three years, but we demonstrated how the B-1 can deliver combat power flexibly by launching from Dyess while seamlessly integrating with joint and coalition forces launching from Nellis.”
Ahead of the main exercise window, Dyess AFB B-1s conducted familiarization flights to the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is an expansive area covering more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land.
During Red Flag, Dyess aircrews flew daily VUL sorties from Texas to Nevada, executing simulated strike missions in a contested, high-threat environment. VUL periods refer to the most vulnerable phases of a mission, which are when aircraft are exposed to simulated enemy engagement or actively conducting strike operations.
Midway through the exercise, B-1s landed at Nellis AFB for hot-pit refueling and aircrew swaps, allowing a second MPC team to plan and execute the final phase of the exercise.
Crews and aircraft from both the 9th and 345th BS — Dyess AFB’s Air Force Reserve associate unit — participated in the exercise. Their combined effort highlights the strength of Total Force integration in preparing for high-end combat operations at Dyess.
“The ability to fly from home station while executing advanced planning with a dislocated MPC team shows how we’re evolving to meet future combat scenarios,” Cook said. “Exercises like this prepare us to be more agile to practice how we would employ against today’s threats.”
Red Flag 25-3 gave Dyess AFB aviators the opportunity to fly both as “Blue Air” and “Red Air,” alternating between friendly strike roles and simulated adversary missions.
“This is one of the first chances our new aviators get to experience a true Large Force Exercise,” said Capt. Nicole Sorrells, 9th BS flight commander. “It’s nothing like flying local sorties; we’re face-to-face with other squadrons and partners we’d deploy with. That’s where real integration happens.”
The hybrid model, with home-station sorties and remote MPC support, required precise mission timing and coordination between Dyess AFB and Nellis AFB.
“Executing VULs from Dyess while relying on a forward-planning team means everything must be dialed in — mission briefs, takeoff times, airspace control. It’s logistically complex, but it shows what’s possible,” Sorrells said.
Red Flag 25-3 brought together joint and allied forces for multi-domain training aimed at sharpening aircrew survivability, lethality, and mission planning in realistic combat conditions. The exercise remains the hallmark exercise for the Air Force’s most advanced air platforms and provided an opportunity for Team Dyess to demonstrate the B-1’s evolving role in modern warfare.
