Page 5 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition July 2021

4 July 2021 Desert Lightning News Desert Lightning News July 2021 5
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Operation Agile Dragon takes flight from Sheppard A-10 ACE Immersion

by use their acquired skills during the exercise,
MiCheLLe MARTiN while also being reminded of the times past by Senior Airman After receiving a brief on the A-10’s capa-
and the impact it had on them. BLAke goNzALeS bilities, the Airmen went through a series
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs of integrations with the 355th OSS Aircrew
“It feels good to be back here,” said Airman 355th Wing Public Affairs
ShePPARD AiR FoRCe BASe, Brody Cole, a 355th Aircraft Maintenance Flight Equipment section and the 354th Air-
Texas — The engines roared, and a crew Squadron crew chief. “Sheppard prepared The 354th Fighter Squadron hosted an A-10 craft Maintenance Unit, in order to get an up
of Airmen took their positions on the flight me very well, and it’s a great job. It’s very Thunderbolt II agile combat employment im- close and personal look at flight line and attack
mersion at Volk Field Air National Guard Base,
line — signaling to the pilots it was time to fulfilling.” Wisconsin, May 20. aircraft operations.
“We got a generalization of what they do and
go — as Operation Agile Dragon took flight Cole has only been in his job field for seven The immersion brought several Airmen how we all play a part in what they do,” said
at Sheppard AFB. months since leaving training at Sheppard. from different Air Force bases and career fields Airman Quantabius Baker, 355th Logistics
Recently, a team of new and experienced His favorite part of his job, he said, is the together in order to demonstrate the mission of Readiness Squadron petroleum, oil and lubri-
A-10 pilots from the 357th Fighter Squadron sense of pride he has and playing a part in the A-10, as well as identify the unique ways cant fuels distributor. “We basically learned all
and aircraft maintainers from the 355th the Air Force story of the A-10. in which all Airmen contribute to its success. our parts and how we’re all tied in.”
Maintenance Group at Davis-Monthan Air For A-10 pilot 1st Lt. Dylan Mackey, 357th “We have Airmen from all over that we’re After the Airmen received a first-hand look
Force Base, conducted an exercise with a FS, Sheppard is where he attended the Euro- trying to reach and bring them into the fold at the A-10, they were asked to think about
mission to familiarize the pilots with off-site NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program for of the A-10,” said Senior Master Sgt. Natalie their individual contributions to the attack mis-
flying locations. Undergraduate Pilot Training and Introduc- Thompson, 355th Operations Support Squad- sion, and how the loss of even one component
This exercise is a requirement for the pilots tion to Fighter Fundamentals, before taking ron chief controller tower. “We’re trying to show can adversely affect mission effectiveness and
as part of their A-10 “B” Course syllabus to his seat in the A-10. Returning to the place how what they do on a daily basis contributes readiness.
graduate. where it all started — in the aircraft he set to the overall mission.” “It makes me kind of glad that I’m doing my
Sheppard was already familiar ground for out to fly — made it even more special for The immersion was held in conjunction job,” said Baker. “As a POL, you can get caught
some of the pilots and all of the maintainers him. It was also personal for Mackey. with Air Mobility Command’s Mobility Guard- up in how repetitive the job is. To think that
assigned to the temporary duty exercise — “My goal was to fly the A-10 like my dad, ian 2021, a large-scale, rapid global mobility you’re actually putting fuel into something that
returning to where the journey began for and here I am,” he continued. “Just know exercise that brings Airmen from around the can help other people save lives — it just makes
their career. The 82nd Training Wing is home your end game — what you are fighting Air Force together in support of operational you think that it’s way bigger than yourself.”
to all aircraft maintenance training, and for — and just keep pushing to get one step readiness. While the pilot may be the most visible as-
the 80th Flying Training Wing is the only closer. Everyone here wants to help you and “It’s a unique opportunity to have so many pect of the A-10’s mission, it takes the focused
internationally manned and operated flying make sure you achieve your goals.” different Airmen from so many different bases efforts of all hands to pull off these audacious
training program in the Air Force — both Davis-Monthan AFB plans to conduct Senior Airman Blake Gonzales understand why they’re here,” said Thompson. tasks. The Dynamic Wing concept requires
turning out highly qualified individuals to this operation and training exercise for each Staff Sgt. Robert L. McIlrath Tech. Sgt. John Jackson, 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons expediter, briefs “We have Airmen from all the different Air multi-capable airmen to go beyond their AFSCs
the operational Air Force year round. graduating class, bringing the A-10s, pilots Senior Airman Enzo Lynch, an A-10 crew chief from the 357th Aircraft Maintenance Senior Airman Isaiah Stevens, 621st Contingency Response Squadron air transpor- Force Specialty Codes, major commands and in order to create a dynamic team of lethal, agile
Some of the former trainees and now and maintenance support to Sheppard twice Unit at Davis-Monthan, closes the ladder hatch on an A-10 Thunderbolt II prior to take tation specialist, during an A-10 Thunderbolt II agile combat employment immer- service components to capitalize on that op- and resilient Airmen ready to outthink, out-
participants of OAD had an opportunity to a year. off at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, May 26. sion at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin, May 20. portunity.” maneuver and outfight our nation’s enemies.

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