104th Fighter Wing Members Deploy to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases, Germany Published May 5, 2015 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Mass. May 4, 2015 -- The 104th Fighter Wing deployed approximately 50 personnel on Sunday to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases, Germany, to integrate with active duty forces and participate in Exercise SILVER FLAG . The objective of this deployment is to work along side our active duty counterparts, learning from each other, while gaining valuable expeditionary combat and contingency skills in order to support worldwide operations. "It is difficult to become proficient in our expeditionary skills by training here at home," said Maj. Matthew Mutti, 104th Force Support Squadron Commander. "With the exercise in Germany, our teams will be able to train in an environment that is similar to what they can anticipate when they deploy." 104th FW personnel will engage specific training procedures that cannot be duplicated at Barnes. Exercise SILVER FLAG is an intensive week-long training program for Airmen from various bases; it combines classroom and practical application exercises to prepare Airmen for all phases of deployment.