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 Airman graduates from Army’s Air Assault school  inspiring the Next Generation of aviators




 by airman 1st Class    “I think this course is great for people   by 1st Lt.                                             when they grow up. Showing them all the
 Vaughn Weber   that work in areas that require you to do   LiLia CaLViLLo                                                pictures and gear and hanging out in the
 more than just your Air Force Specialty                                                                                  hangar I think really meant a lot to so
 355th Wing Public Affairs  355th Wing Public Affairs
 Code,” Rybicky said. “It challenges you men-                                                                             many of them.”
 U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Rybicky,   tally and physically to really help develop   Editor’s note: The mention of the nonprofit   Sufficool also followed family into the
 68th Rescue Squadron medical logistician,   [as a] multi-capable Airmen.”  organization, Women in Aviation Interna-      Air Force. Her father, a former Air Force
 graduated  from  the Army’s Air Assault   Phase I is Combat Assault, which is   tional, does not constitute endorsement of   Thunderbirds crew chief, inspired Sufficool
 School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Aug. 10.  geared toward preparing Airmen for hand   affiliation by Davis-Monthan Air Force Base   to pursue the Air Force. She never thought
 Rybicky entered the Army’s Air Assault   and arm signals along with aircraft safety   or the U.S. Air Force.             she could be a pilot, let alone a fighter pi-
 School at Fort Campbell on Jul. 27, along   orientation. Phase II is Sling Load Opera-  Airmen from the 55th Electronic Combat   lot. It wasn’t until her commander at the
 with 350 other military personnel. Over   tions, consisting of planning, inspecting and   Group and 354th Fighter Squadron attended   U.S. Air Force Academy encouraged her to
 the 11-day course, many people were cut   preparing sling loads, and the responsibili-  the Women in Aviation International’s Girls   pursue a career as a fighter pilot that she
 and on the final day only 143 successfully   ties of personnel. Phase III is Rappelling   in Aviation Day event in Mesa, Arizona,   considered it might be a possibility.
 completed the course and graduated.  Operations, where students learn how to   Sept. 25.                                   ”I was lucky enough to make the Wings of
 “I was given the opportunity from my   tie a hip rappel seat and rappel at higher   The annual event is held in multiple loca-  Blue Parachute Team and my commander
 commander to go,” Rybicky said. “I did my   levels. Each phase lasts three days with   tions across the country and introduces girls   at the time encouraged me to apply for a
 research on the course and it looked like   a major physical training event and final   ages 8-17 to career fields in aviation and   rated pilot slot,” Sufficool said. “Up until
 a fun, humbling challenge and a good op-  exam at the end.  STEM. Providing an opportunity to interact                   then, I never thought of it as a possibility
 portunity to learn from another military   “Being the first and only one in my ca-  with role models face-to-face gave the girls an   for myself. I still had not met a woman who
 branch.”  reer field to attend and graduate was an   experience of a lifetime to meet career avia-                       was a pilot and thought it was a boys-only
 Day zero starts at 4:45 a.m. when mem-  amazing opportunity I am grateful for,”   tors and science, technology, engineering and   Air Force Specialty Code.”
 bers are assigned a roster number, given a   Rybicky said.  math professionals.                              Courtesy photo   Sufficool finally met her first female pilot
 list of mandatory items they have to keep   Other personnel that attended the course   Two of the career aviators from Davis-  Airmen from the 55th Electronic Combat Group and 354th Fighter Squadron attend-  at a USAFA summer program and she got
 with them throughout the remainder of   included Rangers, infantrymen, cadets,   Monthan who attended the event were Staff   ed Women In Aviation International’s Girls in Aviation Day event Sept. 25, Mesa, Ariz.   her first opportunity to pilot an aircraft.
 the course, and required to run two miles   intel, nurses and many other military   Rybicky poses in front of the Army’s Air   Sgt. Kari Tucker, an airborne cryptologic lan-  The annual event is held in multiple locations across the country, and introduces   This experience and her commander’s
 under 18 minutes in uniform. After that   members.  Assault School Aug. 10, Fort Campbell,   guage analyst from the 55th ECG, and Capt.   girls ages 8-17 to career fields in aviation and STEM.  encouragement led her to pursue a career
 they perform physical training for 1-2 hours   In an ever-changing world, having the   Ky. At the start of the course, Rybicky   Charlene Sufficool, an A-10 Thunderbolt II   as an A-10 pilot.
 Courtesy photos  before completing a course consisting of 11   ability to adapt to changes and be multi-  stood with 350 participants and by the   pilot with the 354th FS.    graduated from Basic Military Training out   the motivation she had to pursue a male   Since then, Sufficool finds it important to
 U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Rybicky   obstacles, two of which are mandatory and   capable is paramount in keeping the Air   end of the course Rybicky was one of   Both women grew up wanting a career in   at Lackland AFB, Texas. My family went out   dominated career field, to the young girls  be a role model to young girls and women
 poses in front of the Army’s Air Assault   designed to give students confidence to work   Force ready to respond to potential conflicts   the 142 that successfully completed the   aviation, but didn’t know if it was possible.  to see him graduate and it was a moving   interested in aviation.  who aspire to become aviators.
 School Aug. 10, Fort Campbell, Ky.   at higher elevations.  anytime, anywhere.  training.  For Tucker, she wanted to prove to her fam-  experience. It wasn’t until my senior year of   “It was amazing to see how many girls   “I really enjoyed being able to look these
          ily that she could pursue a career in aviation   high school when I realized joining the Air   and young women were interested in avia-  girls in the eyes and tell them that they
                                               Force was an option,” said Tucker.
                                                                                     tion,” Tucker said. “So many girls said that  absolutely have what it takes to fly,” Suf-
          by joining the Air Force just like her brother.
 Training to defend  “I was 16 years old when my brother   Tucker now hopes she is able to pass down   they want to be an astronaut or a pilot  ficool said.



 by Senior airman    SFS commander. “This exercise prepared
 alex Miller  355th Wing personnel to fight and com-
 municate as a team to defend a forward
 355th Wing Public Affairs
 operating base.”
 The 355th Wing hosted various train-  The 355th Wing is developing Airmen
 ing sessions during Exercise Bush-  to meet the needs of the ever-changing
 whacker 21-07 at Davis-Monthan  Air   global climate of war by forging an     DESERT DIAMOND IS THE ONLY ARIZONA CASINO TO OFFER
 Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 4 - 8.   unmatched and unprecedented state of
 This training encompassed learning   high-end readiness. This is being sus-
 about use of force and other rules of en-  tained by multi-capable Airmen that are
 gagement, the Law of Armed Conflict, as   able to execute dynamic force employ-
 well as practicing individual movement,   ment and agile combat employment in   A DEDICATED REWARDS
 team movement, searching techniques   contested and austere environments.
 and weapons handling and detention.   “These  Airmen were spun up and
 These are critical skills for Airmen as   ready to go to work, many were already
 they learn to deal with situations they   helping set up fighting positions and   Photos by Staff Sgt. Kristine Legate
 may face downrange.   training newer augmentees,” said Goode.   Airmen are apprehending a simulated oppositional force during Exercise Bush-  CARD AND BENEFITS
 “The exercise is important here at   “These exercises will help make our   whacker 21-07 on Sunglow City, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Oct. 4.
 Davis-Monthan because it is helping   force more competitive and lethal than   Bushwhacker allowed Airmen to execute and test agile combat employment pro-
 our defenders not only refine their base   ever before.”   cesses and timelines to pack up, load and reestablish wing facilities and command
 defense skills, it is allowing them to learn   Exercising elements of ACE enables us   and control structures at newly established locations.
 how to work with other Air Force Spe-  to operate from locations with varying
 cialty Codes in developing base security   levels of capacity and support, ensuring   An Airman stands   TO ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS!
 as a team.” said Staff Sgt. Logan Goode,   Airmen and aircrews are postured to   guard while Airmen
 355th Security Forces Squadron combat   deliver lethal combat power across the   build up a tent during
 arms instructor. “When we incorporate   spectrum of military operations.  Exercise Bushwhacker
 everyone into base defense, we are ensur-  “Integrated Base Defense means every-  21-07 on Sunglow City
 ing everyone and everything inside our   one on a base – from the Security Forces   at Davis-Monthan Air
 bases are secured.”  Airmen at the gate to a spouse calling in   Force Base, Ariz., Oct.
 The training is part of the Air Force’s   a suspicious vehicle – is responsible for   4. Bushwhacker allowed
 ongoing Agile Combat Employment acad-  security, whether at home station or de-  Airmen to execute and
 emy designed to develop multi-capable   ployed,” said Kepple. “As a reminder, any   test agile combat em-
 Airmen and increase operational flex-  suspicious activity should be reported.”  ployment processes
 ibility.   The 355th Wing is leading the way in   and timelines to pack
 “ACE operations may require Air Force   executing the priorities of Air Force and   up, load and reestab-
 units to deploy in small, quick moving   Department of Defense senior leaders by   lish wing facilities and
 teams, where every member must be   staying ready to exercise combat airpow-  command and control
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 prepared to directly defend against an   er anytime, anywhere through constantly   structures at newly es-  An Enterprise of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
 attack.” said Maj. John  Kepple,  355th   evolving and enhanced training.  tablished locations.
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