Page 27 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, Jan. 6 2017

Thunderbolt 2016 IN PHOTOS January 2017 27 http://www.luke.af.mil Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
F-16 pilots continue to graduate, continue to fight
by Airman 1st Class RIDGE SHAN
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
A class of F-16 Fighting Fal- con pilots under the tutelage of instructor pilots from the 309th Fighter Squadron graduated Dec. 16 following approximately nine months of training at Luke Air Force Base.
Class 16-ABC completed the comprehensive basic flight course in a high-tempo curricu- lum stressing mission-ready combat skills. Training to refine their abilities will continue at the bases they will go to, but the B-course has left them ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
“It was fast-paced and chal- lenging, but it was definitely rewarding,” said Maj. David Sproehnle, 309th FS F-16 grad-
1st Lt. Taylor Absher Melbourne, Florida Misawa Air Base, Japan
Capt. Casey Habluetzel Olathe, Kansas Misawa AB, Japan
1st Lt. Mitch McKenzie South Lyon, Michigan Osan AB, South Korea
uate pilot and class leader. “I’ve been in combat in other aircraft, so I understand how important it is we do our job. I think everyone understands what we may need to do, but we all know what we signed up for, and we’re ready.”
Each graduating pilot will be sent directly to operational units around the world.
“Whether these guys are go- ing to U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, Pacific Air Forces, or stateside, none of them are going to sit for two or three years,” said Maj. David Bennett, 309th FS op- erations director. “Most will deploy soon after they get there, or be in places where they’re already near potential flashpoints.”
The training consisted in two parts: classroom academic learning for about two months and aerial combat training for about seven months.
“We started class in March,” Sproehnle said. “The classroom academic portion lasted all day, ev- ery day for about four to six weeks with simulator time mixed in.”
The flight phase gave the stu- dents practice in virtually all mission-sets making them more than capable of air combat.
“We trained air-to-air, air-to- ground, mixed missions, weapons qualification, and participated in
Courtesy photo
The 309th Fighter Squadron gradu- ated 12 F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots to the combat Air Force. FRONT ROW FROM LEFT: 1st Lt. Tim Joubert, Capt. James French, Maj. David Sproehnle, Capt. Joseph Atherton and 1st Lt. Taylor Absher. BACK ROW: 1st Lts. Kaleb Jenkins, Spen- cer Peot and Kevin Dugan, Capt. Casey Habluetzel, 1st Lt. J.B. Scott, Capt.
Dan Lacroix and 1st Lt. Mitch McKenzie. Their hometown and follow-on assign- ments are below.
Capt. Joseph Atherton
Fort Worth
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina
1st Lt. Kaleb Jenkins Savannah, Georgia Spangdahlem AB, Germany
1st Lt. Spencer Peot
Suamico, Wisconsin
Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
1st Lt. Kevin Dugan Eldersburg, Maryland Aviano AB, Italy
1st Lt. Tim Joubert Merritt Island, Florida Osan AB, South Korea
1st Lt. J.B. Scott Crystal Lake, Illinois Kunsan AB, South Korea
Capt. James French Newport News, Virginia
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth
Capt. Dan Lacroix
Richford, Vermont Kunsan AB, South Korea
Maj. David Sproehnle Independence, Kentucky Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida
a large-force exercise,” Sproehnle said. “We saw our training come to fruition by using everything we learned to fight our way in, drop our weapons and fight our way back out.”
As F-35 Lightning II tactics and capabilities mature and the F-16 approaches the age of retirement, the pilots of class 16-ABC understand they may be among the last generation of pilots for an aircraft that has
seen four decades of service. Despite this, the graduates are well aware their role and the importance of the aircraft has not
diminished.
“The F-16 is still the backbone
of the U.S. Air Force’s fighter inventory,” Sproehnle said. “The training, regardless of where it takes place, is essential to main- taining air superiority in any current warzone.”
In light of ongoing combat op-
erations in the Middle East where F-16s engage in airstrikes against ISIS and provide close-air support for allied and friendly ground forces, the importance of available F-16s and capable pilots remains.
“With the demand for more pilots from the combat Air Force, we’re very aware of how impor- tant it is to get these guys done on time,” Bennett said. “The squadrons currently at war need these guys now.”