ABM Graduation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Eight Team Tyndall Airmen graduated from Undergraduate Air Battle Manager training program in a ceremony Aug. 10.

Lt. Col. Bruce C. Darveau, the director of the 116th Air Control Wing Plans and Programs Office, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., was the guest speaker at the event.

The students completed a rigorous nine-month course of instruction preparing them for duty aboard the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and the E-8 Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System (J-STAR) aircraft. Upon graduation, students also receive their wings.

Air battle managers' primary responsibilities include providing command and control in the battlespace and ensuring combat aircraft find, identify and destroy their targets. They do this by providing the pilots with a tactical picture which increases combat capability and situational awareness. Air battle managers also provide early warning for inbound enemy aircraft and direct friendly assets to intercept them.

The 325th Air Control Squadron is one of four squadrons assigned to the 325th Operations Group, 325th Fighter Wing. The squadron's primary responsibility includes training all U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve officers in command and control mission execution as air battle managers in a variety of weapons systems in support of air expeditionary forces worldwide.

The ABM graduates were:
2nd Lt. Randal M. Erspamer
2nd Lt. Jase D. Garcia
2nd Lt. Brian J. Gonzales
2nd Lt. Colleen M. Graska
2nd Lt. John M. Traylor
2nd Lt. Alison C. Unger
2nd Lt. Lee E. Wheeler
2nd Lt. Denise M. White