Bamboo Eagle 24-3: USAFWC’s approach to Great Power Competition

Published Aug. 2, 2024
By 1st Lt. Jimmy Cummings
57th Wing Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) --

The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center began the second iteration of exercise Bamboo Eagle on Aug. 2, marking the beginning of an eight-day exercise spanning various locations across the western United States, designated sea and airspace in the eastern Pacific, and several virtual and constructive components.

In today's rapidly evolving strategic landscape, exercises like Bamboo Eagle serve as pivotal components of our readiness strategy."

Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center Commander

With more than 3,000 service members from the joint forces participating and over 20 units supporting, Bamboo Eagle 24-3 will be employing more than 150 aircraft, enhancing interoperability and warfighting capabilities.

“Bamboo Eagle provides a combat representative environment,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi, USAFWC commander. “By honing our capabilities in dynamic and challenging environments, we strengthen our ability to deter aggression and safeguard our nation's interests.”

Integrating training in the eastern Pacific Ocean and associated airspace provides warfighters with combat representative training by including scenarios relevant to the maritime domain.

The exercise includes total force integration, multiple major commands and military services, as well as Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force augmenting command and control efforts. Participants will conduct all-domain combat-power generation from multiple basing locations across the western U.S.

A c-17 Aircraft — A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing sits on the flightline during Bamboo Eagle 24-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 2, 2024. With more than 3,000 service members from the joint force participating and over 20 units supporting, Bamboo Eagle 24-3 will employ more than 150 aircraft, enhancing interoperability and warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brianna Vetro)

Airmen loading a C-17 Aircraft — Airmen load equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing during Bamboo Eagle 24-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 2, 2024. With more than 3,000 service members from the joint force participating and over 20 units supporting, Bamboo Eagle 24-3 will employ more than 150 aircraft, enhancing interoperability and warfighting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brianna Vetro)

“Developing people, generating readiness, projecting power and integrating capabilities allow the joint force to achieve a more competitive posture,” said Brig. Gen. Gerald Donohue, Air Mobility Command’s Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration director of operations. “This exercise will provide an opportunity to test our ability to deploy rapidly and establish operations immediately upon reaching the theater in order to maneuver the joint force at speed, scale and mass.”

The objective of Bamboo Eagle is to improve and refine Air Force readiness through complex, large-scale military operations that demonstrate the ability to operate in a contested, dynamic environment against high end threats on short notice.

“Bamboo Eagle exemplifies the Air Force's commitment to reoptimize for Great Power Competition,” Niemi said. “In today's rapidly evolving strategic landscape, exercises like Bamboo Eagle serve as pivotal components of our readiness strategy. This exercise underscores our commitment to countering anti-access threats and retaining our ability to project power globally, at a time and place of our choosing.”