Page 1 - Nellis, Creech, NTTR Bullseye 12-11-15

Vol. 65 No. 48
December 11, 2015

Draken International provides
adversary support to USAFWS

By Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis have won a contract that provides U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis
Nellis with contract adversary air
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs or adversary support. So they are A Draken International aircraft sits on the Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., flightline awaiting preflight check
ultimately helping us supplement Dec. 3. Draken is used to support various types of military training objectives around the globe.
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, our red air capabilities so that
Nev. — Draken International, a we can present better pictures
commercial fleet of ex-military and presentations to the U.S. Air
aircraft, recently won a bid for Force Weapons School, Red Flag,
a short-term contract to provide and other test agencies here on
adversary support here. base.”

Draken International is based The 65th Aggressors Squad-
in Lakeland, Florida, and has a ron’s inactivation in 2014 further
fleet of over 70 tactical aircraft. limited the 57th Wing’s capability
The company owns and operates of providing support to train-
the world’s largest commercial ing and test agencies around the
fleet of ex-military aircraft. Air Force and Department of
Defense.
Draken’s extensive f leet is
equipped with fourth-generation “We have always f lown and
technology and is flown by former we still have our F-16’s from the
and current military-trained 64th Aggressors Squadron,” said
fighter pilots. Shepherd. “We also had, until
last March, the 65th Aggressors
“Draken International has been which were F-15s. So we still fly
asked to come in as contracted ad- the F-16s but we have a greater
versaries, “said. Lt. Col. Michael
Shepherd, 57th Adversary Tactics ____See DRAKEN, on page 3
Group deputy commander. “They
fly the A-4 (Skyhawk) and they

Childhood adversity tests Airman’s resilience

By Airman 1st Class Jake Carter Her grandmother bursts through the Tippitt, now a member of the 926th a lot of things changed for me,” Tippitt
door. With a rope in hand, Tippitt feels Force Support Squadron and the Nellis said. “That’s when my mother and fa-
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs the wrath of child abuse come down on Air Force Base Yellow Ribbon represen- ther decided to separate. There was a lot
her by her own flesh and blood. tative, said life wasn’t always easy grow- of fighting, and my dad was very, very
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — ing up in Fort Worth, Texas. abusive to my mother. Then we moved
The alarm rings. Yelling is heard from the That was the childhood that one Air to Arlington, Texas, into an apartment
nearby hallway. As footsteps get closer, Force Master Sergeant had to go through “I remember having a good childhood
Vickie Tippitt knows she is in a world until she finally found her calling in the at three years old all the way until I was _____ See ADVERSITY, on page 3
of trouble. Air Force. seven. Once I turned seven, that’s when

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