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Training deployment helps F-22 students

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 43rd Fighter Squadron sent more than 200 Airmen, 14 F-22 Raptors and the 325th Training Support Squadron sent 25 Airmen and seven T-38 Talons to Savannah, Ga., Feb. 1.

The 43rd FS will train at the Georgia Combat Readiness Training Center in a large-scale aerial scenario against multiple aircraft.

"The main goal is to accomplish as much student pilot training as we can," said Maj. John Hensz, 43rd FS assistant director of operations.

Team Tyndall will work with F-15 Eagles from Jacksonville Air National Guard, F-16 Falcons from D.C. ANG, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. and Vermont ANG.

"Pilots work with multiple aircraft and fly against 10 to 15 adversaries at the same time. This gets us robust scenarios to train," Hensz said. "The Combat Air Force is going to get higher qualified F-22 pilots who are going to be better prepared as air dominance warriors."

The majorities of the deployed personnel are maintainers and support Airmen.

"It takes a lot of maintainers to make sure that our jets are flying correctly," Hensz said. "The operation and maintenance groups have done a great job planning this trip. I think we will be very successful in accomplishing our goals."

The 43rd FS tries to conduct similar events like this at least three to four times a year, Hensz said.

"The mission of having these deployments are to train pilots to be worldwide deployable," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Moen, 325th Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment craftsmen, who went on the deployment last year. "But, it is also a great opportunity for the Airmen to learn and train for future missions. There is no one there to hold their hand; they have to do it on their own."

The 43rd FS will return in two weeks.

"I'm expecting the students to learn a great deal," Hensz said. "They are there to train to be the best Raptor pilot possible. They are going to fly their best, and when they're not flying, they are going to study and get ready for their next mission."