asel pilot

Green Flag Mission Pilot

I’m not sure who took this beautiful photo of our aircraft in the midst of its somewhat larger cousins! Unfortunately, I only get to fly the one in the center front. 

The “Surrogate Remotely Piloted Aircraft” (SRPA) mission is to use operational procedures and practices to provide supported units realistic training so they can effectively perform their combat missions. Its purpose is to provide realistic Predator/Reaper RPA integration into air & ground force battlefield training.

I have been working in the CAP Green Flag program since 2018, training and operating first as a Sensor Operator, then moving to the front seats. In 2020 I was proud to be the first woman to become a GF Mission Pilot. Today, I am sad to still be the only one, and I hope we can change that. There are other fantastic women pilots out there whom I’d love to fly with. 

 

Green Flag East & West

    History
  • Over 220,000 US and coalition forces trained at GF East, over 365,000 at GF West

  • Operational since 2009 (East) and 2010 (West)  
  • Locations: operating out of Alexandria LA (GF East, exercises at Ft Polk) and N Las Vegas (GF West, exercises at Ft Irwin) 

To comply with op-sec, the information shared here is limited to information published by CAP and readily available online. 

  • For context, here is USAF information about the broader GF West exercise (not just our part).

Equipment & Capabilities

Simulated predator or reaper system for exercise participants.

  • Intensive ground school and flight training for each of the aircrew roles
  • Video downlink transmitting MX-15 data to ROVER capable ground units in real time
  • Examples of capabilities include – convoy overwatch, ISR (intel surveillance reconnaissance), CAS (close air support)

Besides flying in missions, I have served as instructor at both GF East and West.