Page 7 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition April 2020

6 Desert Lightning News Photo Feature April 2021 7
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Joint training builds readiness for tomorrow’s fight

by Senior Airman dynamic forward adaptive basing cconcepts, Training included performing simulated units and tactics that we don’t usually get different than it is home station, which is potentially contested environments is critical so we can solidify effective practices and in an ACE environment,” Boules said. “With
JAcob StephenS as part of the 355th Wing’s effort to continue combat search and rescue escorts with to train,” Boules said. “We typically train in to always produce safe and reliable aircraft to allow the Air Force and DoD to continue improve where we are deficient.” the environment we are facing now, it is es-
leading the way in developing readiness for Navy and Marine helicopters, anti-maritime a lot of austere and contested environments, for the pilots to effectively carry out their pushing further into the fight and to gain an Following the strategic guidance “Acceler- sential that not just pilots and maintainers,
355th Wing Public Affairs
tomorrow’s fight. strikes, forward area hot refuels and other as well as train on the close air support mission,” said Master Sgt. Johnathan Heyl- edge for any conflict that may arise. ate Change or Lose” from Air Force Chief of but everyone, understands that we are going
“We went out to demonstrate, execute capabilities. mission, but we don’t usually get to train man, 354th AMU production superintendent. “For the Air Force, operations like this are Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the 355th to be required to adapt to any environment
Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force and train our new tactics, techniques and This training is critical as in a near-peer anti-maritime strike roles and capabilities. “We did take this opportunity, however, to the future and we have to be able to pick up Wing is preparing for the high-end fight by that we are in and execute the mission in a
Base traveled to Naval Air Station North procedures for ACE and DFAB and how we adversary situation, interoperability be- Training new things only helps us further integrate and train Navy and civilian main- and go anywhere with limited support at building an unprecedented level of readiness, timely and safe manner.”
Island, California, to perform multi-service integrate those with coalition forces,” said tween units and military branches is going our readiness for what we may see in the tainers on A-10 hot refueling operations. In the forward location, and still produce safe, as proven by the capabilities of the Airmen The ever-changing global climate of con-
integration training with the Marines, Navy Capt. Alexander Boules, 354th FS A-10 pilot. to be critical for mission success. Building on future.” addition, we did practice some ACE concepts reliable combat sorties,” Heylman said. and A-10s at the 354th FS. flict requires the Air Force and DoD to adapt
and other Air Force assets from Feb. 16 to 20. “We took a detachment of our A-10s out to previous training with other Air Force assets, Training new and atypical missions is by having a built bomb truck arrive from “Operations like this help our maintainers “What we are doing at the 354th FS ex- and deploy ready, lethal forces anywhere in
Airmen from the 354th Fighter Squadron train these concepts, as well as integrate while also on-boarding new mission partners beneficial as it prepares our Airmen for situ- home station for resupply and exercise cer- to get repetitions operating without all the emplifies ‘Accelerate Change or Lose’ due the world at a moment’s notice. The 355th
and 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, as with the Navy, Marines, C-130s (Super helps increase the reach and effectiveness of ations that they may face while downrange. tain maintenance concepts operating in an comforts and support of being at home sta- to the fact that we are working through Wing remains on the leading edge of this
well as other support units set up command Hercules) from Little Rock (Air Force Base, not just the Dynamic Wing and Air Force, but Not all is new, however, as some missions austere environment.” tion. It also tells us what we are good at and problems and building what is essentially a charge by developing Airmen to execute ACE
and control operations out of NASNI to train Arkansas) and other Air Force assets we the entire Department of Defense. are best executed by doing the same things. Enabling pilots and maintainers to oper- what we need to improve on going forward to mission essential personnel list for deploy- and DFAB in austere and contested environ-
and develop agile combat employment and don’t traditionally get to train with.” “This training gives us exposure to some “Our focus during this trip was not much ate smoothly and effectively in austere and be able to operate in austere environments, ments based on what we anticipate seeing ments and reach their full potential.

Airman 1st Class Hunter Thomas, 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit A-10 Thunderbolt
II crew chief, performs pre-flight inspections on the flight line at Naval Air Station
North Island, Coronado, California, Feb. 20. Crew chiefs are responsible for per-
forming pre- and post-flight inspections to ensure that the aircraft remains safe and
ready for any mission, anywhere, anytime.
An Airman from the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit performs mainte-
nance on the flight line at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, Cali-
fornia, Feb. 16. Airmen from the 354th AMU traveled to NASNI with A-10
Thunderbolt IIs from the 354th Fighter Squadron to execute dynamic for-
ward adaptive basing and agile combat employment concepts.

A C-130J Super Hercules taxis down the flight line at Naval Air Station North Island, Coro-
A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk flies over the Pacific Ocean Feb. 18. Heli- nado, California, Feb. 17. The C-130, assigned to the 61st Airlift Squadron, traveled to NASNI Photos by Senior Airman Jacob T. Stephens
copter Sea Combat Squadron 85 is a Naval aviation squadron based out of alongside A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 354th Fighter Squadron to train tactics, techniques An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from the flight line at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California, Feb. 17. The A-10s, assigned to the 354th Fighter Squadron, trained along-
Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California, that flies the MH-60. and procedures. side joint service partners to increase overall force readiness for land and sea operations.