Page 4 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 2-12-16

Feb. 12, 2016 SPOTLIGHT
4 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Airman abroad achieves Army commendation
by Senior Airman
JAMES HENSLEY
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Every ribbon on an Airman’s ribbon rack tells
a story. All have the basic training ribbon, most
earn a ribbon for length of service but it’s the
medals that tell a unique story.
Senior Airman Carlton Mickles, 56th Civil
Engineer Squadron electrical systems journey-
man, was awarded an Army achievement medal
for his efforts in supporting an Army training
mission in Kuwait.
“We set up the Army’s training ground which
was essentially a campsite with tents and
power,” Mickles said. “We earned the medals for
providing them with our equipment including
primary distribution panels and cables for their
generators, without us, they had generators but
no way to facilitate the power.”
Some of the work Mickles did included dig-
ging, installing cables, troubleshooting, basic
repairs and completing work orders.
“One of the crucial things we did was to
provide a quick-response team,” Mickles said.
“We responded to calls as soon as they came in.
I had the opportunity to lead a few times, and
we supported mission critical things like if the
commander’s office or dining facility lost power.”
Being deployed has its ups and downs, both
with distance and events happening while
abroad.
“My favorite days were when there were
concerts at the base,” Mickles said. “Anytime
we had events like those, it was a great time.
It brought everyone together. When you’re
deployed all you have is each other. My worst
day was when I found out my aunt had passed
away. Distance makes the issues at home that
much worse.”
A co-worker who deployed alongside Mickles
knows him better than anyone else, Mickles
said.
“He was great to have as a subordinate, and
he did everything he could to get the job done,”
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Senior Airman Carlton Mickles, 56th Civil
Engineer Squadron electrical systems jour-
neyman, poses with his Army Achievement
medal Feb. 1 at Luke Air Force Base. Mickles
received the medal for his hard work supply-
ing equipment and power for a joint mission
while on his deployment to Kuwait.
said Staff Sgt. Anthony Coleman, 56th CES
electrical systems craftsman. “He has a great
work ethic and learned from others. He’s going
to be a great supervisor when it’s his time.”
Mickles’ hard work paid off when he achieved
something very few Airmen have.
“After receiving the medal, I felt really ap- cockpit is in this trainer.”
preciated,” he said.
Mickles loved the experience and has some
advice for Airmen going on their first deploy-
ment.
“Always keep an open mind while you’re
there and do your time,” Mickles said. “While
you’re there set some goals and know you will
make it, and be stronger for it. Make sure to
keep in touch with family and friends back
home.”
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F-35 (from Page 1)
cockpit and jumping out with a parachute on your back,” Cunningham
said. “Now, you just pull a handle and the aircraft and the seat take care of
everything for you.”
Cunningham will instruct the first Luke F-35 egress maintainer class,
which is tentatively scheduled to begin in early April. Despite being a simu-
lated model, he says that the system is both comprehensive and effective
as a learning tool.
“We can do any component removal on the trainer, like canopy removal
or seat removal,” Cunningham said. “It allows us to cover any aspect of the
coursework in the training.”
The extreme technical accuracy of the trainer will allow student maintain-
ers to deeply familiarize themselves with the various aspects of the egress
system and gain first-hand knowledge of processes for maintaining them.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Master Sgt. Jeremy Rolin, 372nd TRS, Det. 12 egress
instructor and Field Training Detachment NCO in charge. “For the most
part, everything in the cockpit or on the exterior of the trainer is exactly
identical to what is on the actual aircraft. Every switch that is in the F-35
In addition to its capacity to educate maintainers, the trainer will also be
used as a controlled simulation environment to familiarize pilots with the
cockpit and emergency egress system use.
“Delivery of the trainer provides student pilots familiarity operating air-
craft equipment under normal and emergency conditions, as well as ensures
valuable resources are protected by saving the real F-35s from any unneces-
sary abuse caused by the repetition of continuous training,” said Maj. Chris
Duncan, 56th Training Squadron F-35 training systems chief. “Emergency
procedures training, allows pilots to exercise time-critical emergency egress
actions required for inflight or ground emergencies.”
The F-35 platform uses technology far more advanced than that found
in older legacy jets like the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, both of
which are near 30-year-old designs. Despite this gap in advancements, Cun-
ningham says it’s no more challenging for maintainers to learn to work with
this system than with those of legacy jets.
“Anyone who has worked on this system so far will tell you that it’s one of the
easiest and most maintainer friendly systems we have. There is nothing like the
simplicity of the maintenance on this system,despite its technological complexity.”
The trainer accompanies the slew of existing F-35 training programs
already in action at Luke, complimenting the base’s ability to produce a
mission-ready F-35 force capable of dealing with all tasks both on the ground
and in the air.
“The egress trainer will be incorporated into a total training solution
for F-35 pilots that already includes electronic media lectures, interactive
courseware, pilot training aids (part-task trainers), and full mission simu-
lators,” Duncan said. “Delivery of the F-35 egress trainer is the final piece
to completing a fully integrated system designed to train the world’s most
elite F-35 fighter pilots.”
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