Wing returns from one last exercise before transition

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air superiority exercised in Savannah, Ga., marked the last time 33rd Fighter Wing Nomads packed up personnel and F-15 Eagles in a large force and 'wandered' out of town. 

During the east coast Dissimilar Aircraft Training May 11-21, Nomads flew and maintained 10 F-15's, almost half of the inventory left in the transitioning wing. 

"The Airmen of the 33rd FW made me proud to call myself a Nomad and an American," said Col. Jeff Gustafson, 33rd FW vice commander. "The maintainers prepped and repaired the mighty Eagle jets while the Eagle drivers meticulously cleared the skies of all hostile adversaries while protecting our fellow Navy and Air Force aviators as they destroyed their ground based objectives. There is no replacement for this type of tactical face-to-face training."

Maintainers measured their success using Air Combat Command standard metrics and calculated they exceeded expectations.

"I am extremely proud of the Maintenance Group Airmen's performance during the final scheduled 33rd Fighter Wing deployment," said Col. Glenn Ferguson, 33rd Maintenance Group commander. "They produced an average 95.7 percent aircraft mission capability rate for all deployed aircraft, 14.7 percent higher than standard. When an aircraft experienced a pilot reported discrepancy, they repaired the aircraft every time within eight hours, 31 percent faster than standard."

Other metrics determine how quickly maintainers can troubleshoot potential problems before a jet gets in the air, something one Nomad said made the temporary duty more testing than others, pushing his limit.

"It gave me more experience with people and management. I had to use my time wisely," said Staff Sgt. Mario Davis, 58th Aircraft Maintenance unit electronics and environmental specialist. "We'd have to find the shorted wire and narrow down where in the system caused it.

During the large force exercise, 58th Fighter Squadron and 33rd MXG maintainers focused on training while sharing the skies with other Air Force units. They flew and fixed jets side by side with E-3 AWACS, F-18s, F-16s, F-22s and refueling aircraft. A total force of more than 50 aircraft came from Eglin AFB, Fla.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Jacksonville Air National Guard, Fla.; and a Marine Aviation Wing from Beaufort, S.C. and Yuma, Ariz. They fought with and against each other as they honed their large force employment tactics, techniques and procedures simulating a variety of missions. 

"This two-week exercise was a phenomenal opportunity to fine-tune the cooperative joint training skills of more than 160 Nomads,'" said Colonel Gustafson who flew with the wing during the first week of the exercise.

One pit stop on the road also helped hone Nomads' skills. They stopped in Jacksonville, Fla., on the way to Georgia to support the Jacksonville Air National Guard's Operational Readiness Inspection. F-15 air crews from the 33rd FW simulated "red air" aggressors in the airspace.

"The maintainers launched and recovered four night time cells of aircraft during the ORI support," said Colonel Ferguson. "Our efforts were worth it -Jacksonville earned an "Excellent" rating on their ORI!"

Prior to the ORI, the 33rd Maintenance Group sent three exercise evaluation teams, consisting of 24 inspectors, to the 125th Fighter Wing there to help the Guard prepare.

"As I hang up my helmet after flying this marvelous machine known as the world's greatest air superiority fighter for over 17 years, I can say with unwavering confidence and without hesitation...we possess the best, brightest and most professional enlisted and officer force the world has ever known," said Colonel Gustafson who 'wanders' on to Seattle, Wash., to become commander of an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment. "I will deeply miss working beside and with these incredible Nomad Airmen."