Page 10 - Desert Lightning News 8-7-15

10 August 7, 2015
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Jamming the enemy with joint integration
Airman First Class Cheyenne Morigeau can be challenging.” Leach said. “When everyone is on their game and
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Walking the halls of the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron is an un-
familiar uniform. Leaving the flight deck of the EA-6B Prowler behind
for a few years, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jonathon Leach from Marine
Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, joins the Desert Light-
ning Team.
Leach is part of a three-year inter-service exchange program where
he will be flying on the EC-130H Compass Call as a mission crew com-
mander with the 41st ECS. While Leach learns about the EC-130’s capa-
bilities to educate the Marine Corps when he returns, he also teaches the
Airmen of the 55th ECG about the EA-6B Prowler’s capabilities.
“I am here until 2017,” said Leach. “I will be sharing tactics, techniques,
and procedures to help educate the Air Force about how the Marine
Corps integrates its assets, to include the Prowler, into its overall scheme
of maneuver warfare; and how best to employ other joint assets, like the
EC-130, into that big picture. While here I will also share tactics, tech-
niques, and procedures from the Air Force and EC-130 community with
my Marine colleagues so both communities are able to benefit from this
exchange program. As well as take in what the EC-130 does and share
that with my colleagues back on the Prowler.”
Despite being a Marine for 18 years, Leach said the switch to working
with the Air Force has been smooth.
“It’s been a great transition,” Leach said. “The Air Force is an outstand-
ing and professional organization that has and made me feel right at
home from the moment I stepped on base about a year ago.”
After spending six years flying on the EA-6B Prowler, Leach had to grow
accustomed to the differences of aircrew on the EC-130H Compass Call.
“One of the biggest differences on the EC-130 is we have enlisted fly-
ers, whereas the Prowler there are only three to four officers working
together with a mission crew, comprised of eight different mission crew
positions and coordinating with four crew positions on the flight deck
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jonathon Leach, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron mission crew com-
mander stands with U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call crew members on the flightline at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, July 31. He is part of a three-year inter-service exchange program Air Force Base, July 31. Leach is from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, he is part of a
where he flies with Airmen from the 41st ECS. Leach is from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry
Point, N.C.
Desert Lightning News
working as a team, the result is one of the most rewarding feelings you
can experience.”
Leach has a total of 1018 flying hours with the EA-6B Prowler which
has an airspeed of 575 mph whereas the EC-130H Compass Call has an
airspeed of 300 mph.
“The prowler is a tactical jet, so it is much closer to the fight and has a
greater ability to escape with more maneuverability.” Leach said. “As far
as the EC-130, is a standoff jamming platform and you have to take into
account the threat environment both air and ground, because it’s not as
fast as the other aircraft that are out there.”
Despite the differences, the aircraft still work together to complete the
mission given. Once downrange, all branches come together to work as a
team to complete the mission.
“Both are used for electronic combat, but they support different as-
pects. The prowler is primarily a radar jamming platform whereas the
EC-130 is primarily a communication jamming platform.” Leach said.
“The electronic warfare aircraft come together as a team (downrange)
to maximize their strengths and remove the enemy’s ability to use the
electromagnetic spectrum.”
Throughout the year that Leach has been here he has worked with
pilots, navigators, linguists and electronic warfare officers from the 55th
Electronic Combat Group.
“It’s pretty cool to have a Marine here,” said Senior Airman Tevin Wal-
lace, 41st ECS linguist. “We get to see the other side and hear some of
the stories.”
Leach is excited about working with the 41st ECS and plans on giv-
ing everything he has to offer. “Wherever I’m most needed to provide
the most benefit to the group, that’s where I’ll head with a smile to share
what I have to offer with who I train.” Leach said. “The 55th ECG is a great
environment and a great team. I couldn’t ask for a greater group of indi-
viduals to work with over the next two years. They’re truly professional
and excellent aviators up and down the spectrum.”
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cheyenne Morigeau)
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jonathon Leach, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron mission crew com-
mander stands with U.S. Air Force Airman EC-130H Compass Call navigator at Davis-Monthan
three-year inter-service exchange program where he will be flying on the EC-130H Compass Call
with the 41st ECS. Throughout the year that Leach has been here he has worked with airmen
from the 55th Electronic Combat Group to include pilots, navigators, and analysis operators.