Page 10 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, June 29 2018

10 Desert lightning news s. nevaDa www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
Photo Fe
A 391st Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle taxies to the runway during Green Flag West, June 13, 2018, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 391st FS participated in Green Flag to further enhanc
G
G
G
r
r
r
e
e
e
e
ri
e
e
n
n
n
n
n
n
F
g
g
g
f
f
f
o
o
o
F
Fl
r
r
r
C
l
P
i
P
Pr
r
r
e
e
e
p
p
pa
a
ar
r
i
l
C
C
l
l
lo
o
o
s
s
s
by Airman 1st Class JaNae Capuno
Nellis AFB, Nev.
Since the 1980s, the United States of America has been crowned with air superiority by using the F- 15E Strike Eagle’s dual-role fighter capabilities in air-to-air and air- to-ground missions.
Preparing for those scenarios that happen down-range requires cooperation from both pilots and joint terminal attack controllers to get the job done.
Green Flag West provides essen- tial close air support training that combines the capabilities of the Air
Force and Army as a multi-domain fighting force.
“We’re here supporting the Army, and their big exercise out of Fort Irwin,” said Capt. Kyle Fitle, 391st Fighter Squadron pilot from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. “We are here to provide close air sup- port by training with and helping them integrate airpower into their large-force exercise.”
F-15E pilots learned how to aid Army ground forces by providing CAS to clear the area of “enemy targets,” over Fort Irwin, Cali- fornia, as part of Rotation 18-08, National Training Center.
“When we try to integrate with
the Army, especially in these larg force type exercises, the bigge challenge is learning to effectivel integrate the two forces and lear ing to speak the same language, Fitle said.
Unique to the F-15E Strik Eagle, these pilots don’t wor alone. A weapons systems office helps guide munitions from th back seat, by communicating wit JTACs on the ground and othe F-15Es in the sky.
“The Strike Eagle is the onl dual-seater fighter we have in th Air Force, and CAS is where feel my job is most valued,” sai Capt. Alex Deerr, 391st WSO. “
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class JaNae Capuno
An 391st Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle takes off during Green Flag West, June 13, 2018, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The 391st FS participated in Green Flag to further enhance readiness by training on Close Air Support over the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.
a
a
a
e
e
e
e s
n
k h
d A
e