131St FS Eagles Soar Into Tyndall

Gulf Defender Friday, November 17, 2017 tyndall.af.mil gulfdefender.com 325FWTyndall

116ACW, JOINT STARS JOIN 131st FS Eagles soar into Tyndall CHECKERED FLAG 18-1 | PAGE 3 By Airman 1st Class Delaney Rose Team JSTARS 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs provides joint airborne command TYNDALL AIR FORCE and control, BASE — The 104th Fighter intelligence, Wing, 131st Fighter surveillance, and Squadron from Barnes Air reconnaissance over National Guard Base, Mas- land and water and sachusetts, deployed nearly provides combat 200 members and seven support forces to aircraft to participate in meet state and Checkered Flag 18-1 and national objectives. the concurrently running Weapons System Evalua- tion Program (WSEP) Com- CHECKERED FLAG bat Archer at Tyndall Air PICTURES Force Base. Nov. 6-17. | PAGES 8-9 Checkered Flag is a large-scale exercise that Checkered Flag integrates the war-fighting is a large-scale, power of both fourth and aerial total-force fifth- generation aircraft. exercise that The purpose of the exer- combines fourth cise is to provide a training and fi ft h-generation environment that simulates airframes enhancing realistic threats in order to the capabilities improve the proficiency of Airmen while and effectiveness of Air- training to rapidly men and maintain the respond to current, future of air superiority. real-world confl icts The 104th Fighter and preparing for Wing brought their Air- the future of air men and F-15C Eagles, a superiority. fourth generation aircraft, to continue their mission of maintaining highly trained, well-equipped, and motivated military Commissary ...... 2 forces in order to provide Pics ...... 8-9 combat-ready F-15 aircraft A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from The 104th Fighter Wing, 131st Fighter Squadron from Barnes Nightlife ...... 10 and support elements in Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, sit parked on the ﬂ ightline at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Mountain Home ...... 11 response to wartime and prior to ﬂ ying sorties Nov. 6. Barnes Air National Guard Base sent assets to Tyndall to participate in Classifieds ...... 12 exercise Checkered Flag 18-1 and Combat Archer. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ISAIAH J. SOLIZ/ See EAGLES, 2 RELEASED] 2 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender

EAGLES

From Page 1 peacetime tasking’s under state and federal authority. “Over a two-week period, our F-15C Eagle's will be flying Large Force Exercise dissimilar combat training missions during Checkered Flag 18-1,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beckel, 131st Fighter Squadron commander. The F-15C is a tactical fighter aircraft designed to maneuver with ease and operate under a variety of climate conditions. The ingenuity and power of the F-15C contributes to the Air Force mission of air dominance; however, in order to truly achieve mission suc- cess, fourth-generation aircraft must maintain operational cohesion with fifth-generation aircraft. “We will be executing Fighter Integration missions with fifth genera- A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from The 104th Fighter Wing, 131st Fighter Squadron from Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, tion F-22 Raptor and F-35 ﬂ ies over the ﬂ ightline at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 6. Barnes Air National Guard Base sent assets to Tyndall to participate in exercise Lightning II aircraft Checkered Flag 18-1 and Combat Archer. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ISAIAH J. SOLIZ/RELEASED] during Defensive Counter Air, Offensive Counter Training against con- readiness through ready “We will be executing Fighter Integration missions with Air-Escort and Cruise flicts that exist in today’s Airmen and ready weapons fi fth generation F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II aircraft Missile Defense mis- society plays an integral systems. This task is com- during Defensive Counter Air, Off ensive Counter Air-Escort sions,” Beckel said. “The part in preparing Airmen pleted through large-scale and Cruise Missile Defense missions. The complexity of complexity of these mis- to respond quickly during exercises such as Checkered these missions can only be replicated at a FLAG- level event sions can only be repli- real-world operations. Flag, giving Airmen a feel for of this caliber.” cated at a FLAG- level Air Combat Command’s deployments in a safe and event of this caliber.” goal is to improve squadron controlled environment. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beckel, 131st Fighter Squadron commander

Thanksgiving Commissary hours of operation

U.S. Air Force Thanksgiving Day, the Tyndall note the following changes to a.m.-5 p.m.Monday-Wednes- Friday Nov. 23-24 (Thanksgiv- Commissary will be augmenting Commissary hours of business. day Nov. 20-22, 9 a.m.-6 ing) OpenSaturday Nov. 25 from In acknowledgement of its hours of operation. Please OpenSunday Nov. 19, 10 p.m. ClosedThursday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

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By Senior Airman is established as the host Air Readiness is a combination Sergio A. Gamboa National Guard component of properly trained Airmen 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs of Team JSTARS with the with the necessary equipment. active duty 461st ACW and Exercises like Checkered Flag TYNDALL AIR FORCE Army JSTARS contributing and aircraft like the E-8C give BASE — Team JSTARS out personnel to the mission. Airmen the ability to main- of Robins Air Force Base, To accompany the wing’s tain readiness at all times. Georgia, is flying an E-8C mission, the E-8C Joint “If JSTARS didn't exist, Joint Surveillance Target STARS provides theater combatant commanders Attack Radar System in sup- ground and air command- would lose the wide area port of Checkered Flag 18-1 ers with ground surveillance capability for the dual-sided hosted by the 44th Fighter to support attack operations intelligence, surveillance, Group at Tyndall Nov. 6-17. and targeting that contributes reconnaissance, and com- Checkered Flag is a large- An E-8C Joint STARS taxis down the runway during a morning to the delay, disruption and mand and control that Joint scale, aerial total-force exer- mission at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., July 20 . Team JSTARS, destruction of enemy forces. STARS offers,” Parsons cise that combines fourth and consisting of the 116th Air Control Wing (ACW), Georgia Air “The E-8C Joint STARS said. “Essentially, it would fifth-generation airframes National Guard, active-duty 461st ACW and Army JSTARS, provides is the world's only weapon take multiple aircraft to see enhancing the capabilities of joint airborne command and control, intelligence, surveillance, system of its type,” said the same area that one E-8C Airmen while training to rap- and reconnaissance support over land and water to combatant Senior Master Sgt. Roger Joint STARS can see alone.” idly respond to current, real- commanders around the globe. The Total Force Integration unit Parsons, 116th ACW Pub- Checkered Flag provides world conflicts and preparing operates the world’s only Joint STARS weapon system based out of lic Affairs superintendent. a platform for Airmen and for the future of air superiority. Robins Air Force Base. [U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SENIOR MASTER “When combatant com- aircraft, like Joint STARS, to Team JSTARS provides SGT. ROGER PARSONS] manders need simultane- train in simulated real-world joint airborne command and ous wide-area surveillance scenarios to continue enhanc- control, intelligence, surveil- land and water and provides state and national objectives. and command and control, ing their mission and synergize lance, and reconnaissance over combat support forces to meet The 116th Air Control Wing JSTARS is their first choice.” Total Force Integration. 4 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender 79th FS ‘Tigers’ roar in Raptor Country

By Senior Airman Flag while units are here, Solomon Cook they are getting experi- 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ences of what a warfighter sees in a simulated envi- TYNDALL AFB — As the ronment,” Lee added. second week of Checkered To ensure mission suc- Flag 18-1 and concurrently cess, Shaw sent all the running Weapon Sys- necessary components tems Evaluation Program needed to man, equip exercises continues, Air- and maintain tasking. men from the 79th Fighter “Shaw brought just short Squadron from Shaw Air of 200 personnel, including Force Base, South Carolina, pilots, maintainers, life sup- sustain the high tempo while port and support personnel bringing further dynamics to generate the 14 jets we to the large-scale exercises. will bring to the exercise,” Checkered Flags are a Oatmen said. “It takes a variety of exercises that lot to get that amount of focus heavily on integrat- people to a different base. ing the Total Force through “We don’t just travel training active-duty Air- down there. We bring all men while capitalizing on the equipment we may need the knowledge, experi- to fix anything on the spot ence, and proficiency of down there. Bringing all of Air Force Reserve and Air that equipment and the peo- National Guard Airmen. ple where they need to be is The 79th FS Tigers a huge effort,” he added. brought their iconic F-16 A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 79th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Although the Air Force Fighting Falcon, a multi- Carolina, takes off at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, during Checkered Flag 18-1. Shaw brought nearly trains some of the best pilots role fighter aircraft that 200 personnel, including pilots, maintainers and support personnel, to generate the 14 jets to participate in the world, not all of the is highly maneuverable in the exercise. The exercise focused on combining fourth- and ﬁ fth-generation airframes to enhance competencies of an aircraft and provides air-to-air the capabilities of airmen while providing training to rapidly respond to current, real-world conﬂ icts and are experienced overnight. and air-to-surface attack preparing for the future of air superiority. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SOLOMON COOK/RELEASED] Oatmen elaborated on some capabilities to the U.S. of the unique and first-time and Allied nations. [Lightning IIs] and F-15E “[For example] surface-to- provide an opportunity for opportunities Checkered “We brought 14 F-16s to [Strike Eagles] combining air radar sites that would the aircraft and Airmen to Flag 18-1 will bring him. Tyndall for the two weeks and working together for try to shoot missiles at our be evaluated on their readi- “I’ve never shot an actual of Checkered Flag and the counter-air missions. These aircraft, and we have dif- ness for executing com- air-to-air missile,” he said. WSEP,” said Capt. Bradley will be both defensive and ferent weapons, whether it bat air-to-air operations “We train to and we drop Oatmen, 79th FS F-16 flight offensive counter-air to deal be bombs or anti-radiation at the same time, saving a lot of bombs when we lead. “For the WSEP, we with more advanced threats harms to suppress those the Air Force money. are able to. Shooting a live are evaluating and helping that fourth and fifth-gen- threats and allow the other “We have a long his- missile is going to force me drive tactics and procedures eration aircraft can hope to aircraft to survive in a tory of using WSEP to view to know and study all of for air-to-air missiles. We handle together in the next contested environment. weapon systems from cradle the intricacies of employ- will shoot upward of 30 big war if we have to.” “Our main role at Shaw to grave. We see how a ing that weapon, and to air-to-air missiles, test- Shaw and their 79th FS is escort other aircraft in manufacturer says it will actually see one come off ing new techniques and play a vital role in the secu- the Air Force into those perform, look at every piece the jet and work is one capabilities of the missiles rity of the United States contested environments and evaluate it from the thing I am excited about.” we have at our disposal.” and allies as they are the were the SAMs are so they moment we bring up a mis- As the second and final Oatmen went on to fur- only Air Force installation can do their job. We bring sile out of the bomb dump week of the exercises come ther explain Checkered in the nation to provide a a very support oriented up until it fuses on a realistic to a close, the Airmen that Flag 18-1 as a whole and the distinct type of protection. aspect to protect them from simulated enemy aircraft,” visited Tyndall and par- purpose of such exercises. “The F-16 at Shaw are the those threats,” he added. said Lt. Col. Daniel Lee, ticipated in the exercises “It is a large-force exer- only stateside Suppression The Tigers converged 44th Fighter Group deputy will take their experiences cise focused mainly on of Enemy Air Defenses unit, on Tyndall with more than commander and Checkered back to their homestations fourth and fifth-generation so we are block 50 F-16s and seven other units to com- Flag 18-1 Air Expedition- with further knowledge of aircraft integration,” Oat- we have the technology to bine Checkered Flag with ary Wing vice commander. Air Force capabilities and men said. “There will be see air-to-ground threats the WSEP, not only to allow “Doing a WSEP in con- better prepared for the F-16s, F-22 [Raptors], F-35 out there,” Oatmen said. the Airmen to train but to juncture with Checkered future of air superiority. Gulf Defender | Friday, November 17, 2017 5 6 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender Gulf Defender | Friday, November 17, 2017 7 8 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender Checkered Flag 18-1, Combat Archer

325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE — Checkered Flag 18-1, a large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and fifth-generation airframes to enhance the capabilities of Airmen while providing training to rapidly respond to current, real-world conflicts and preparing for the future of air superiority and Combat Archer, a 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group Weapon System Evaluation Program. See more pics on page 9

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from the 389th Fighter A 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., F-22 Raptor goes down the Tyndall fl ightline Nov. 9, 2017. Tyndall Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, fl ies Raptors participated in Checkered Flag 18-1, a large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and fi fth- over the Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., fl ightline Nov. generation airframes to enhance the capabilities of Airmen while providing training to rapidly respond to current, 9, 2017. The 389th FS are responsible for sustaining real-world confl icts and preparing for the future of air superiority. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SERGIO A. combat readiness to conduct a variety of short-notice GAMBOA/RELEASED] contingency operations worldwide. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SOLOMON COOK/RELEASED] U.S. Air Force pilots from the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., walk down the Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., fl ightline Nov. 9, 2017. The 79th FS came to Tyndall to participate in Checkered Flag 18-1, a large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and fi fth-generation airframes and Combat Archer, a Weapons System Evaluation Program. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SERGIO A. GAMBOA/RELEASED] Gulf Defender | Friday, November 17, 2017 9 Checkered Flag 18-1, Combat Archer

A U.S. Air Force pilot from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, performs a pre- fl ight check on an F-15E Strike Eagle parked on the fl ightline at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 9, 2017. Mountain Home Airmen and assets were at Tyndall participating in Checkered Flag 18-1, a large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and U.S. Air Force pilot from the 389th Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, fi fth-generation airframes while providing a platform for maintenance teams to be Idaho, hops into the canopy of an F-15E Strike Eagle at the Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., evaluated. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ISAIAH J. SOLIZ/RELEASED] fl ightline Nov. 9, 2017. Mountain Home was at Tyndall to participate Checkered Flag 18-1, a large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and fi fth-generation airframes and Combat Archer, a Weapon System Evaluation Program. The 389th FS sent approximately 240 operations and maintenance Airmen and 14 F-15E Strike Eagles to the two-week long exercise. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SERGIO A. GAMBOA/ RELEASED]

U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and F-16 Falcons from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., sit on the fl ightline at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., prior to fl ying sorties Nov. 7, 2017. Airmen and aircraft from Mountain Home and Shaw came to Tyndall to take part in Checkered Flag 18-1, a two week long large-scale exercise that integrates the war-fi ghting power of both fourth- and fi fth- generation aircraft with a focus on training for current and future confl icts. [U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN SOLOMON COOK/RELEASED] 10 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender Gulf Defender | Friday, November 17, 2017 11 Thunderbolts light up the sky during Checkered Flag 18-1

By Airman 1st Class part because of the air- our inventory is a unique Checkered Flag, focuses high paced training that allows the Airmen to be Isaiah J. Soliz crafts dual seats, allowing experience only available on the seamless integra- emulates real-world tested and evaluated on 325th Fighter Wing for a division of duties at exercises like Red Flag tion of fourth- and fifth- scenarios. The concur- their combat readiness in Public Affairs between the pilots in the and here at Checkered generation aircraft while rent exercises not only a realistic environment cockpit depending on Flag,” Och continued. enabling the participating provide a platform for the and in a cost-effective TYNDALL AFB — the mission at hand. This According to its fact- active duty units to train Airmen to train, but it also and efficient manner. The 366th Fighter enables the pilot and the sheet, the 389th FS Thun- alongside their Air Force Wing “Gunfighters” weapons systems officer derbolts are responsible for Reserve and Air National from Mountain Home to work collectively to sustaining combat readi- Guard colleagues. Check- Air Force Base, Idaho, achieve peak proficiency. ness to conduct a variety of ered Flag and the Weap- deployed assets to par- The all-weather fighter short-notice contingency ons Systems Evaluation ticipate in the large-scale houses avionics and elec- operations worldwide. Program run simultane- aerial exercise Checkered tronics systems that give “Exercises like this ously, WESP focuses on Flag 18-1 and Combat this aircraft the ability to allow us to practice, make the air-to-air training and Archer, a Weapons Sys- fight at low altitude any improvements and effi- live fire weapons testing tem Evaluation Program time of the day through ciencies in logistics and for the participating units. at Tyndall Air Force various types of weather. manpower toward the “This specific exercise Base, Fla., Nov. 6-17. “Checkered Flag is deployment aspect of allows our Thunderbolts The 366th FW sent a unique opportunity an exercise,” Och said. to get back into an air- approximately 240 opera- for us to integrate with “In this case, we are to-air combat mindset,” tions and maintenance many different aircraft, only moving assets from Och said. “After return- Airmen and 14 F-15E specifically fourth and Mountain Home to Tyn- ing from a record-setting Strike Eagles from the fifth-generation aircraft dall; however, if we were deployment that was 389th Fighter Squadron to integration,” said Lt. Col. to be heading into a real- mainly an air-to-ground train in real-world simu- David Och, 389th Fighter world deployment, much focus, we will now be able lated scenarios for this Squadron commander. of the steps and processes to train and refocus on two-week long exercise. “We do not get to do this would be the same. being ready for any con- One of the mainstays type of training at Moun- “Our wing must be pre- tingencies that may occur of Mountain Home, the tain Home very often. pared to deploy combat- at a moment’s notice.” F-15E Strike Eagle, is a “The ability to come ready assets at a moment’s As the exercises ramp distinctive aircraft that here to integrate and notice so participating in up into full swing, the bolsters a more dynamic mission plan alongside this exercise is extremely 389th and its partners training environment in the newest aircraft in beneficial,” Och said. will partake in rigorous 12 Friday, November 17, 2017 | Gulf Defender

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