By Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, 159th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – More than 150 members of the Louisiana Air National Guard’s 159th Fighter Wing participated in Combat Archer 16-05 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 22 – March 4. The 159th deployed 10 F-15 fighter jets for the exercise.
The two-week exercise is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a unit’s overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability.
“The 122d Fighter Squadron trains pilots today as if going to war tomorrow,” said Col. Michael McDermott, vice wing commander, 159FW. “Shooting live missiles couples the pilot with the otherwise intangible human factors effects that accompany a Mach 3+ missile leaving the rail. Combat Archer gives pilots the opportunity to take inherent training muscle memory to the next step in the process; what they will see, hear and feel after pressing the pickle button.”
The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group conducts 12 Combat Archer exercises annually. The primary purpose of WSEP is to evaluate the effectiveness of the total air-to-air weapons system including aircraft, weapon delivery systems, munitions, aircrew, support equipment, technical data and overall maintenance operations. The secondary objective of Combat Archer is live-fire missile training for pilots before ever deploying to a combat environment.
Capt. Keith Johnson, maintenance officer, 159FW, said during this exercise the wing’s ten jets flew 147 sorties, fired 10,000 20MM rounds and 17 live missiles, to meet all requirements set forth by the 53rd WEG.
“It’s eye opening being able to take our training to the next level,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Henderson, F-15 pilot. “It’s not often you fire the gun and rip bullets off the jet. No where else can you press the pickle button and see smoke in the air from an AIM-120 AMRAAM, except for combat. It’s a great confidence builder, not to mention an experience few get to witness.”
Along with the rare chance to fire live missiles, Combat Archer also provided the opportunity to conduct force integration sorties to train with dissimilar aircraft F-22 Raptor and the Navy’s F-18 Hornet.
“Our Airmen are well prepared to answer our nations call,” McDermott said. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this Wing, and I am humbled daily by the personal readiness, professionalism and integrity engrained in each and every Airman in the Louisiana Air National Guard.”
Airmen with the 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew, Louisiana Air National Guard, remove an AIM-9 missile from an F-15 Eagle during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Airmen with 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew, Louisiana Air National Guard, load an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile onto an F-15 Eagle during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. During Combat Archer the 159th Fighter Wing will fly 147 sorties, fire 10,000 20MM bullets and fire 17 live missiles. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Col. Michael McDermott, vice wing commander, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, inspects an AIM-120 AMRAMM missile prior to takeoff during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Airman 1st Class Jennifer Carter, f-15 crew chief, 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, inspects an F100-220 engine intact blades during a post flight inspection during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Staff Sgt. Matthew Bluffln and Airman 1st Class Demaar Flowers, weapons load crew members, 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, download spent 20MM bullet casings with a universal ammunition loading system during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, participates in Combat Archer 16-05 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, participates in Combat Archer 16-05 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Airmen with the 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load crew, Louisiana Air National Guard, remove an AIM-9 missile from an F-15 Eagle during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, participates in Combat Archer 16-05 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)Tech. Sgt. Christopher Fish, F-15 crew chief, 159th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Louisiana Air National Guard, marshals an F-15 Eagle during the Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 23, 2016. Combat Archer is a two-week exercise and is part of the Air Combat Command Air-to-Air Weapons Systems Evaluation Program, which assesses a units overall operational effectiveness, weapons systems performance and reliability. (U.S. Air National Guard Force photo by Master Sgt. Toby Valadie)
