Page 8 - Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News 7-2-15

8 July 2, 2015 Desert Lightning News
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F-15E Strike Eagle students complete training at D-M

Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski Warriors. Now we’re challenging them further by introducing an un-
familiar environment, integration with A-10s, F-16s and F-35s, air-to-
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ground threat emitters and tactical command and control.”

Student pilots from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., have Other than serving as an unfamiliar environment, southern Arizo-
been training here since June 17.
na’s airspace provides optimal conditions for this training.
Fourteen F-15E Strike Eagles from the 334th Fighter Squadron, as “Back east, the airspace is a lot more congested and has a much dif-
well as pilots and Weapons Systems Officers came to D-M to complete ferent terrain than D-M has,” Mead said. “The capability to operate in a
the Surface Attack Tactics phase of their training.
mountainous terrain is beneficial because it provides the students with
“We’re a formal training unit that teaches brand new Strike Eagle exposure to an environment that is similar to the one in which they
pilots and Weapons Systems Officers before we send them off to an op- will be carrying out their mission,” Mead said.
erational squadron,” said Lt. Col. Nathan Mead, 334th FS commander. Large neighboring tactical ranges, challenging terrain and the op-
“We teach them all the basics about how to employ the Strike Eagle.” portunities to integrate with other assets were all considerations that
The F-15E Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air- made D-M a prime training site.
to-air and air-to-ground missions. An array of avionics and electronics “From the standpoint of delivering and employing weapons in a
systems gives the F-15E the capability to fight at low altitudes, day or tactical scenario, we’re able to do that in a much more realistic way
night, and in all weather.
because of the size of the range compared to what we have back east,”
“With this class, we’re at the very end of the program where we test Mead said.
all the basic skills together in a tactically challenging scenario,” Mead During the training, 36 weapons were employed along with 16 2,000
said. “Out here with the airspace, the ranges and the potential to in- pound guided bomb unit-24s and 20 500 pound GBU-12s.
tegrate with other assets, it makes for great training for the students.” “We don’t want the students’ first time employing weapons to hap-
Surface Attack Tactics is the final flying phase of training for F-15 pen in combat,” Mead said.
pilots and a culmination of all the training they have received thus far. The students leave D-M to go back to Seymour Johnson Sunday and

“These students have completed nine months of air-to-air and air- are scheduled to graduate July 10.

to-ground courses,” said Capt. Adam Vogel, 334th FS instructor pilot. “We are proud of their accomplishments here and we know that

“They’ve proven to us that they are worthy of becoming Strike Eagle they are better prepared for combat,” Vogel said.

(U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey)

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 334th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., taxis to a ramp at Davis-Monthan AFB, June 19. Fourteen Strike Eagles will be completing their
Surface Attach Tactics phase training in military training areas from June 12-27.