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Luke Airman’s story is tale for big screen 57th Wing plans ‘threat’ paint color scheme for aggressor F-35s

by theaviationist.com
by Airman 1st Class connected with his dad’s old college friend Staff Sgt. Olek- Officials at Nellis Air Force Base confirmed the the
BROOKE MOEDER who helped them settle into a two-bedroom sandr Kalinin, 56th 65th Aggressor Squadron will give their F-35 Lightning II
apartment. Force Support stealth jets a “threat representative” color scheme.
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Soon Kalinin realized that the U.S. is a Squadron Airman The 57th Wing has begun working on camouflage color
Imagine discovering a once in a lifetime country filled with experiences he wasn’t Leadership School schemes for the future Aggressor F-35A jets ahead of the
chance to change your life forever. Taking used to. He said one thing that amazed him instructor, poses reactivation of an Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB. Last
that chance meant you had to leave your was that you could get free refills. for a portrait while year the U.S. Air Force announced the plan to reactivate
home, move to a new country and face a “In Ukraine that’s not a thing,” Kalinin holding a fam- the 65th AGRS, a unit previously flying the F-15C/D,
new adventure. This Luke Air Force Base said. “If you want another one you have to ily heirloom Aug. inactivated on Sept. 26, 2014, due to fiscal 2015 budget
Airman’s story could be one for the big purchase it.” 26, 2020, at Luke constraints.
screen. Kalinin explained that after leaving Air Force Base, The 65th AGRS will receive about a dozen early produc-
Staff Sgt. Oleksandr Kalinin, 56th the world he knew, he was initially lonely Arizona. Kalinin tion non-combat capable 5th generation aircraft and art-
Force Support Squadron Airman Leader- because he didn’t know anyone and felt brought the amu- ists have been invited to submit proposals for the future
ship School instructor, exchanged his old isolated. However, he is thankful for the let with him from Aggressor F-35 paint scheme.
memories for the idea of making new ones openness and the help he has received thus Ukraine when F-16s of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, based at Nellis Air
in a new place. far on his journey in the United States. he moved to the Force Base, and 18th AGRS, based at Eielson AFB, Alaska,
“My story is almost like a movie,” Ka- Before graduating high school, he decided United States in are well-known for sporting paint schemes that make them
linin said. “Born and raised in Ukraine, I to join the Air Force in 2014. 2010. The amulet similar to Russian or Chinese counterparts. Red Air liver-
lived there until I was close to 15 years “I joined the military because I didn’t is traditionally kept ies replicate the paint schemes, markings and insignia of
old. The 2008 recession hit, my parents know how to fill out a college application,” in a household their near-peer adversaries, so that pilots in training who
owned a business which was struggling. he joked. “Actually, I wanted to fly, and my and is thought to come within visual range of these adversary jets get the
So my parents, out of desperation, started dad saw how much the service takes care of bring an abundant same sight they would see if they were engaging an actual
looking for ways out.” you because he enlisted as internal troops harvest, good luck threat. Some famous “splinter” patterns worn by Nellis
Kalinin’s parents discovered and ap- in the Soviet Army back in the ‘80s. He said and keep spirits AFB’s Aggressors as well as more traditional camouflages, artwork courtesy of Sean Hampton aviation art
plied for the Diversity Immigrant Visa it was tough, so he kind of prepared me for U.S. air force photo by airman 1st Class Brooke moeder away. like the one applied to U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets The Wraith, based on the existing F-16 Viper color scheme is among the designs submitted by Sean Hampton for
Program, also known as the “green card it. It’s a good foundation.” in past years, have been inspired by Russian air force and the 65th AGRS F-35. Artwork for illustration purposes only.
lottery.” Kalinin enlisted as a heating, ventila- it took another five years for it to sink in military but would also like to be a movie navy aircraft.
Through the program, applicants of tion and air conditioning technician. He and think how much I really want to fly,” actor one day. An Aviationist.com article published Sept. 10, con- other liveries that are not based on To learn more about the future of proval to use a threat representative
low-admission countries — any country mentioned that HVAC technical training Kalinin said. “Now I’m taking steps. I see “It suits me,” Kalinin said. “It’s easy to tained seven designs made by artist Sean Hampton, existing Viper camouflages but has the 65th AGRS and the alleged plan to color scheme on the Aggressor F-35s”,
with fewer than 50,000 natives admitted was challenging to learn because of all the the progress and this progress fuels further get along with people, to do the mission. which were the artistic renderings of current Aggressor decided not to release them until the give it an Aggressor paint scheme, we said the PAO Media OPS in an email.
to the United States in the previous five materials the job encompasses, but he over- progress.” It’s a wonderful joy ride. I can see myself camouflage schemes sported by 64th AGRS and 18th squadron have their unveiling of the reached out to the 57th Wing. “The current timeline [to receive the
years — are eligible to enter the lottery came it while making many lifelong friends. Kalinin said he has embraced all the serving for 20 years unless I get picked up AGRS’ F-16s, applied to the F-35. Sean has submitted chosen schemes. “The current plan is to seek ACC ap- first F-35] is Oct. 1, 2021.”
for a U.S. Visa. However, according to the Kalinin arrived at Luke AFB in October opportunities the Air Force has given him, for a new Hollywood blockbuster.”
American Immigration Council, the odds 2014. He attended Airman Leadership such as the chance to go to school and buy
of being randomly selected are slim, with School in March of 2019 without knowing a house, and suggests others do the same.
an average of 13.3 million people submit- he’d later become an instructor. Kalinin earned his U.S. Certificate of Citi-
ting applications every year. Kalinin said the five weeks students zenship Aug. 21, 2014, while in technical
“About six or so months later my parents spend at ALS is a little snapshot of what training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
received a letter in the mail,” Kalinin said. leadership looks like in action. Students “Overall, the military tells you how to
“They sent it to my English tutor and we are presented with situations where they’re succeed,” Kalinin said. “Which tells me
sat there with him while he opened it. He forced to adapt to build their leadership the people that don’t succeed are actively
briefly scanned it and said, ‘Congratula- skills. He also encourages them to return refusing to succeed. If you’re here to do
tions, you’re going to America!’” to their unit and change the Air Force from something, put your mind to it and do it
Kalinin, his parents and his brother within it, or if they choose to get out, use the best you can. Don’t be afraid to ask if
moved to Seattle in April 2010. They re- the skillsets learned to change the world you need help. People are always willing
from outside the military. to help.”
Eight months later, he became an ALS Kalinin returned to Ukraine in 2019 to
instructor himself and now teaches Air- visit family, a trip that brought back memo-
men the skillsets and criteria needed to ries but reminded him that his home is in
become NCOs. the States. He said he plans to stay in the
“He told me before he came to ALS he
was planning to get out of the military after
his time was up,” said Master Sgt. Bradford
Doyon, 56th FSS ALS commandant. “ALS
made such a big impression on him that
he wanted to be part of the team and give
back what he received. When he was being
evaluated during the selection process, Courtesy Photo by
you’d never know he was teaching his first Staff Sgt. Oleksandr Kalinin
class — you’d think he’d been doing it for Staff Sgt. Oleksandr
a year or two already.” Kalinin, 56th Force
As an extrovert, Kalinin said he loves Support Squadron Air-
working with people and emphasized the man Leadership School
fact that experiences can’t be bought. instructor, teaches
“My first class was graduating at Club an ALS class Jan. 14,
Five Six and all my students were looking 2020, at Luke Air Force
Courtesy photo sharp,” Kalinin said. “I just remembered Base, Arizona. Kalinin
Staff Sgt. Oleksandr Kalinin, 56th Force how they walked up to me and thanked me. became an ALS instruc-
Support Squadron Airman Leadership I stood there and thought, in no other point Courtesy Photo by Staff Sgt. Oleksandr Kalinin tor in November 2019
School instructor, holds his United of time can I buy this, this is real.” Staff Sgt. Oleksandr Kalinin, 56th Force Support Squadron and teaches Airmen
States Certificate of Citizenship Aug. 14, Apart from being an ALS instructor, Airman Leadership School instructor (right), his brother the skillsets and crite-
2020, at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Kalinin is working on his bachelor’s degree Vladimir Kalinin and father pose for a photo in Vinnytsia, ria needed to become
Kalinin earned his citizenship during in management and plans to complete it Ukraine. Kalinin and his family moved to the Seattle area in NCOs. The course puts 6.5” AD SPACE
technical training. Kalinin and his family within the next year. Once achieved, he 2010 from Ukraine and Kalinin joined the Air Force in 2014 students into situations
moved to Seattle in 2010 from Ukraine. is going to apply for the Air Force Officer after graduating high school. Kalinin is working on his where they’re forced to
Kalinin joined the U.S. Air Force in 2014 Training School program. bachelor’s degree in management and plans to apply for adapt in order to build
after graduating high school. “When I came in I wanted to fly jets, but the Air Force Officer Training School and become a pilot. their leadership skills.