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War Day provides training for 95th FS instructors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacey Haga
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  It's the beginning of "War Day" for the 95th Fighter Squadron on an overcast, autumn morning. 

The briefing room is full of flight suits, each worn by pilots conversing with each other about the day's upcoming events. Occasional laughter fills the room. It's about 15 minutes until their mission briefing starts. 

As it becomes five minutes until, a hush spreads across the room and anticipation rises. 

You could hear a pin drop. 

The briefing always starts precisely on time, not a minute before and not a minute after.
"Time hack, in one minute it will be zero-seven-thirty," said Maj. Jason Rudd, 95th Fighter Squadron Weapons and Tactics Chief. "Hack, zero-seven-thirty," he said one minute later. 

Major Rudd then proceeds to launch into the briefing covering mission objectives, rules of engagement, radio protocol, safety and more. 

"Leadership has given us this great opportunity for training," he said, stressing the importance of the day to the pilots. 

During War Day, the squadron, along with other units from Tyndall and nearby bases, engaged in a fictional war scenario referred to as a large force exercise. 

"War Day was an exercise that provided a unique opportunity to challenge both the 95th FS and the 95th Aircraft Maintenance Unit in a way that most resembles real world combat," said Lt. Col. William Routt, 95th FS commander. 

The exercise was developed to keep the instructor pilots' tactical viability and boost their morale. 

"When the instructors were in their operational units, they had more opportunities for LFEs," said Colonel Routt. "Here, they train students day in and day out and their student load is not easing up. The scenarios they teach are far simpler blocking and tackling than War Day. This day was created to challenge the instructors." 

The exercise also served as a reminder to both the instructors and students the objective is to fight and win wars. 

Twelve F-15s from the 95th FS took part in War Day. Also participating in War Day were four B-52s from Barksdale AFB, La.; four F-16s from Kelly Air National Guard, Texas; two AT-38s from Moody AFB, Ga.; four F-4s from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron here and four F-15s from the 1st FS here.  

The scenario had two countries joined together against the U.S., attacking an area of the Gulf-side of Florida for political and capital gain. 

The F-15s took on the challenge of defending the U.S. as "blue air," while the others, with call signs like Rash, Skull, and Doom, played "red air," attacking them from the south. 

"Going against the threat of War Day is far more difficult than that of any other country, not because of the numbers of aircraft or the aircraft's capability, but because we are fighting American pilots who are the best trained in the world," said Colonel Routt. "They know and use the same tactics we do. They know our capabilities and our weaknesses."  

With "red air" regenerating themselves after being "shot," they had the advantage with 30 aircraft against "blue air's" 11. 

"The 95th FS defended the target from all striker aircraft in accordance with the mission objectives," said Lt. Col. Mark Hayes, 95th FS director of operations. "The 95th FS, without doubt, were the clear winners of this engagement. It was a huge success given the challenge at hand." 

Sometimes meeting an objective requires conquering of a few obstacles. War Day was not an exception. 

"We ran into a couple of obstacles along the way," said Major Rudd. "The biggest obstacle was the weather. Part of the airspace we planned to use was completely unworkable. So, we made a real time change to the plan, and then proceeded with the mission." 

 As with any mission, training or real world, safety is paramount.
"Safety is always important," said Major Rudd. "A smart tactical plan is inherently safe. If it is not safe, it is not a smart plan."  

"(War Day) in my opinion, was the most effective training the instructor pilots in the 95th FS have had in the last year and a half," he continued.  

This is the third War Day the 95th FS has held in the last three years, providing LFE training for instructors that is difficult to come by in a training squadron.
"Hopefully this tradition will continue," said Colonel Routt.