Crown Royal 16-1 exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall participated in exercise Crown Royal 16-1 Nov. 2 through6 to improve warfighting skills by simulating a deployment of 15 F-22 Raptors.

"The purpose of the exercise was to hone skills and improve processes," said Frank LaBroad, 325th Fighter Wing exercise plans chief. "Additionally, it validates readiness to provide overwhelming combat power when and wherever it is needed. In this rendition of Crown Royal, aircraft were prepared for deployment; more than 400 personnel accomplished training and medical screening to ensure worldwide qualifications and cargo preparation for shipment."

Because of the amount of personnel needed from the wing to prepare the 95th Fighter Squadron aircraft and material for the exercise, Crown Royal 16-1 marked the largest combat deployment exercise ever conducted at Tyndall.

Although exercise operations are complete, the evaluation and review of the exercise is still ongoing.

"The results of the exercise are not in at this time," LaBroad said. "There are lessons learned and improvements will be made, and they will be tested and validated in future exercises."

"Tyndall's Airmen continue to impress, they worked tirelessly to ensure aircraft are the best they can be, personnel are medically qualified, cargo is properly configured for shipment," LaBroad added. "The importance of conducting exercises is to get the combat power from Tyndall to where it is needed is a perishable skill set."

At the conclusion of the exercise, 325th FW leadership spoke highly of Tyndall's performance.

"I am extremely proud of the way the entire team Tyndall and the 325th FW performed during this exercise," said Col. Joseph D. Kunkel, 325th FW vice wing commander. "We have a lot to be proud of; this is something that is unprecedented in F-22 history. A single squadron being able to generate as many aircraft and get them out the door is something we can really take pride in."