Page 18 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 8-28-15

Aug. 28, 2015 GRADUATION Thunderbolt
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Top Hats graduate 15 into CAF

by Lt. Col. During these intense months of training, the Courtesy photo
MATTHEW students continued receiving academics and
WARNER Á\LQJVLPXODWRUPLVVLRQV The Tophats graduated 15 pilots today. They are from left: 1st Lts. Jake Im-
pellizzeri, Trevor Kilroy, John Burns, Michael O’Donnell, Corydon Butler, John
310th Fighter Just as they began to feel somewhat com- Iselin and Brendan Zubrod, Capt. Robert Barlow, 1st Lts. Thomas Hainline, Bryan
Squadron fortable executing the air-to-air mission, the Rivera, Kenneth Durbin, David Gill, Cody Main and David Takahashi, and Capt.
students transitioned to the air-to-surface Addison Harding. Their hometowns and follow-on bases are below.
Basic F-16 Course class 15-ABG of the SKDVH OHDUQLQJ WR Á\ LQ WKH ORZDOWLWXGH
310th Fighter Squadron is well on its way environment, employ general purpose UHDG\6RRQDIWHU047PRVWZLOOEHÁ\LQJ a positive and lasting impression on the
to being “Dressed to Kill” as combat-ready ERPEVDQGÀUHWKH)·VPPJXQ7KHLU in combat or in air defense alert missions to 310th FS, Luke Air Force Base, and the local
F-16 pilots. When they graduate today they training progressed on to employing the defend our great nation. community.
will continue the legacy of 310th FS trained targeting pod and dropping the same preci-
ÀJKWHUSLORWVZKRKDYHIRXJKWLQHYHU\ZDU sion weapons they will soon drop in combat. In all aspects of this incredibly demanding Thanks to the Thunderbolts who helped
from World War II to Iraq, Afghanistan Additionally, to ensure each pilot is ready course, both in the air and on the ground, make this day happen. All of Luke’s Airmen
Libya and Syria. for the rigors of the combat Air Force, each the students of 15-ABG excelled and proved FDQEHSURXGRIWKHQHZHVWZRUOGFODVVÀJKW-
student demonstrated proficiency in all themselves worthy to be called Air Force er pilots that will graduate this weekend.
The graduation culminates nine months these tasks at night with the aid of night ÀJKWHUSLORWV,QDGGLWLRQWKHLUVSRXVHVOHIW
of intense training and hard work by the vision goggles. To the Top Hats of 15-ABG … DTK!
310th FS and 310th Aircraft Maintenance
Unit team, the 56th Training Squadron and Their mission planning, air-to-air and 1st Lt. John Burns 1st Lt. Corydon Butler
countless support agencies that ensured DLUWRVXUIDFH WDFWLFV ZHUH ÀQDOO\ WHVWHG LQ Clovis, New Mexico Williamsburg, VA
these Top Hat students could fully focus on large-force exercises which pitted up to 20 F- Kunsan AB, South Korea
their mission. This team contributed to more 16s and F-35s versus as many as eight enemy Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
than 895 sorties, 319 hours of academics and aircraft and multiple simulated surface-to-
VLPXODWRUVWRPROGÀJKWHUSLORWVIRUWKH air threats. These capstone missions ensured
Combat Air Force. they were ready for their operational tours.

This 15-pilot B course began in Novem- 7KHQH[WVWHSIRUWKHVH\RXQJÀJKWHUSLORWV
ber 2014 with six weeks of academics and ZLOOEHDIHZPRQWKVRIPLVVLRQTXDOLÀFDWLRQ
simulators in the 56th TRS. This rigorous training at their operational bases where
six weeks laid the vital foundation of aircraft they will work to become combat mission
systems knowledge and study habits that
ZLOO VXVWDLQ WKHP WKURXJKRXW WKHLU Á\LQJ Capt. Robert Barlow
FDUHHUV2QFHWKH\KLWWKHÁLJKWOLQHLQ-DQX- Rock Island, Illinois
DU\WKH\OHDUQHGWKHEDVLFVRIÁ\LQJWKH) Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
before they transitioned to employing the
Viper as a weapons system.

The tactical air-to-air portion of their syl-
ODEXV EHJDQ ZLWK EDVLF ÀJKWHU PDQHXYHUV
RQHYVRQHÀJKWVDQGXOWLPDWHO\SURJUHVVHG
to Air Combat Tactics. ACT entailed four
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in a challenging real-world combat scenario.

1st Lt. Kenneth Durbin 1st Lt. Dave Gill 1st Lt. Thomas Hainline Capt. Addison Harding
Fremont, California Lucerne, California Alamogordo, New Mexico Fishers, Indiana
Misawa AB, Japan Shaw AFB, South Carolina Kunsan AB, South Korea
Osan AB, South Korea

1st Lt. Jake Impellizzeri 1st Lt. John Iselin 1st Lt. Trevor Kilroy 1st Lt. Cody Main
Cincinnati, Ohio Nelson, New Hamshire Granada Hills, California Buffalo, New York
Spangdahlem AB, Germany
Osan AB, South Korea Aviano AB, Italy Aviano AB, Italy

1st Lt. Michael O’Donnell 1st Lt. Bryan Rivera 1st Lt. David Takahashi 1st Lt. Brendan Zubrod
Osan AB, South Korea Kunsan AB, South Korea Misawa AB, Japan Sioux Falls AGB, SD
Syracuse, New York Tempe, AZ Omaha, NE
Houston, Texas