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6 April 29, 2016 NEWS Thunderbolt
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeaf b http://www.luke.af.mil
309th Fighter Squadron FROM LEFT: 1st
Lts. Chad Rob-
Graduates 11 erson and Elliott
England, Capt.
from class 15-BBC Scott Eldredge,
1st Lts. Anthony
by Lt Col. Garlisi, Sean Ro-
WILLIAM McKIBBAN bere and Josh
Smith, Capts. Zach
309th Fighter Squadron lation to adversaries in close proximity. The class progressed to close air sup- Thompson and
Once proficient in basic one vs. one, port and surface attack tactics phases John Hadjis, and
America’s newest fighter pilots are where they flew in forces of four to 1st Lts. Jimmy
ready to join the most lethal combat the class progressed to two vs. one, two eight aircraft. These “missionized” sce- Graves and Johsua
air force the world has ever known. vs. two and eventually four vs. four narios most closely replicated the types Caudill, and Capt.
The eight active-duty and three Air air combat tactics missions, mimick- of combat missions they will execute in Brannan Studley
National Guard officers of class 15- ing real-world tactical employment of support of national objectives. graduate today
BBC have successfully completed the the F-16. Courtesy photo from class 15-BBC.
F-16 Basic Course and will celebrate Class 15-BBC was presented with
this accomplishment today with loved Upon reaching basic proficiency in one final challenge; a large-force ex- 1st Lt. Joshua Caudill
ones, academic instructors, and in- air-to-air employment, 15-BBC moved ercise. These missions consisted of a Pemberville, Ohio
structor pilots. on to mastering their air-to-ground representative air tasking order and
skill sets. This began with basic weap- mission planning process, culminat- Toledo Air National Guard, Ohio
Class 15-BBC’s stay at Luke Air on delivery sorties where the students ing in complex force-on-force scenarios
Force Base began nine months ago with were instructed on the employment integrated with warriors from the 61st, Capt. Scott Eldredge
an intense initial phase of academic of unguided bombs on the Barry M. 62d, and 310th Fighter Squadrons. The Adana, Turkey
and simulator training. Much of the Goldwater Range. missions consisted of between 20 “blue”
class’ 305 hours of academic training, aircraft simultaneously attacking tar- Osan Air Base, South Korea
nine formal exams, and 56 simulator They were then introduced to the gets defended by simulated surface-to-
missions were concentrated in this munitions they will employ in combat air missiles and “red” fighters. 1st Lt. Elliott England
initial phase, although ground training after departing Luke — laser-guided Wauseon, Ohio
continued throughout the course. bombs and GPS-guided munitions. While the effort and perseverance re- Toledo ANG
While most missions consisted of quired to graduate was all theirs, class
After a month of ground training, simulated employment, each student 15-BBC’s milestone would not have
the pilots moved from the 56th Train- had the opportunity to employ live been possible without the combined
ing Squadron to the 309th Fighter weapons. efforts of Team Luke. From across
Squadron. the base, there isn’t one individual
who didn’t contribute to the success
Flying training started with the of these graduates. The members of
transition phase, which taught them the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Unit
to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon in ac- moved mountains to keep the oldest
cordance with technical orders, Air F-16s in the Air Force flying. The
Force instructions, and Federal Avia- graduation was also made possible by
tion Administration guidance. the Mad Mallard instructor pilots who
pushed, cajoled, motivated and chal-
The transition phase concluded with lenged them.
an instrument/qualification flight
evaluation where the students proved Congratulations 15-BBC. Continue
themselves capable of flying the F-16 to make us proud, and best of luck
as a nontactical pilot. It was on to one going forward. Once a Duck, Always a
vs. one dogfighting next, where they Duck! Quack, quack, my friend!
demonstrated competence in dynamic
maneuvering under high g-force in re-
1st Lt. Anthony Garlisi 1st Lt. Jimmy Graves Capt. John Hadjis 1st Lt. Sean Robere
O’Fallon, Illinois Oneida, New York Bridgeport, West Virginia Mount Clemens, Michigan
Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
Kunsan AB, South Korea Kunsan AB, South Korea Aviano AB, Italy
1st Lt. Chad Roberson 1st Lt. Josh Smith Capt. Brannan Studley Capt. Zach Thompson
Washington, D.C. Idaho Falls, Idaho Coventry, Rhode Island Tucson, Arizona
Duluth ANG, Minnesota Osan AB, South Korea
Kunsan AB, South Korea Osan AB, South Korea
