An instructor pilot with the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing returns to base after completing an Exercise Coronet Cactus training mission April 24 near Tucson, Ariz. The 149th Fighter Wing trains active duty F-16 pilots prior to assignment to their first duty station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
Pilots with the Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing from San Antonio attend a mass mission brief prior to their sorties April 23 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The pilots are a mix of instructors and students participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Jack Braden)
1st Lt. Scott Kotowski (right) reviews aircraft maintenance records with crew chiefs Senior Airman Jacob Rocha (middle) and Senior Airman Chris Wilson prior to flying a training sortie April 23 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. All three Airmen are assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, and are participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. Lieutenant Kotowski is a student pilot. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Jack Braden)
Senior Airman Jacob Rocha salutes as his jet departs for a training exercise during Exercise Coronet Cactus April 23 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Airman Rocha is assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing from San Antonio, and is an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Jack Braden)
1st Lt. Scott Kotowski (front) answers questions about safety procedures during a mass brief April 23 at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. He is one of nine active-duty student pilots participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. Lieutenant Kotowski is assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
1st Lt. Scott Kotowski connects his oxygen mask to the oxygen regulator in his F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to engine start April 23 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Lieutenant Kotowski is one of nine active-duty student pilots participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. He is assigned to the Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
A student pilot with the 149th Fighter Wing maneuvers his F-16 Fighting Falcon into the target area during live munitions drops on the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range April 24 near Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
An instructor pilot with the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing makes a low-level pass over the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range after completing an Exercise Coronet Cactus training mission April 24 near Tucson, Ariz. The 149th Fighter Wing trains active duty F-16 pilots prior to assignment to their first duty station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing from San Antonio depart for training sorties during Exercise Coronet Cactus April 24 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The 149th Fighter Wing is a Texas Air National Guard unit and trains active duty F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Jack Braden)
Senior Airman Adam Flood conducts pre-flight checks after engine start up April 24 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Airman Flood is assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio and participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. Airman Flood is an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
Staff Sgt. William Sanchez (left to right), Tech. Sgt Alan Colombo and Staff Sgt. Jaime Alonzo load a live MK-82 500-pound bomb onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon April 27 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The Guard members are participating in Exercise Coronet Cactus. The three Airmen are weapons loaders from the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jack Braden)
by Master Sgt. Jack Braden
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
4/30/2009 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- Over the Arizona desert near Tucson, nine student pilots took the "final exam" for a career most people only dream about in April. They are in the final stages of training to become F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots for the Air Force.
At the end of 7.5 months of intense F-16 Basic Course Training with the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, the students participated in Exercise Coronet Cactus at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
"At the end of the course, we bring them out here for two weeks for what is ultimately a graduation exercise of sorts," said Lt. Col. John Kane, the 182nd Fighter Squadron commander and one of 28 Air National Guard instructor pilots assigned to the 149th FW. "It is a culmination of all of their training. This is a great opportunity for them to put the whole 7.5 months of training together to get them prepared for when they go to their active-duty units."
Coronet Cactus is scheduled for 176 sorties over 11 days, and after months of simulating different scenarios the students looked forward to putting the pieces together and applying everything they have learned.
"I'm expecting to get a little more experience," said 1st Lt. Tom Dowd, a second-generation Air Force pilot. "We're actually dropping live bombs and heavyweight inerts instead of simulating them as we have been. We also have the chance for larger force engagements, flying against more planes at a time and starting to get some real-life scenarios instead of training for one piece of the puzzle at a time. We're putting the pieces together."
Although the instructors are all members of the Air National Guard, they bring an average of more than 2,000 flight hours each, in various aircraft, to the course. All of them have previously served on active duty around the world.
"Working with the Guard wasn't much of an adjust," said 1st Lt. Shawn Hoeltje, an active-duty student. "The instructors were active duty at one time in their life and the Guard and active duty are pretty similar. A lot of the instructors are lieutenant colonels and colonels; seasoned guys who have been around for nearly 20 years and have different sets of experiences."
It is passing on that knowledge and experience to a younger generation that motivates the instructors.
"Our experience helps them, most of us have seen it and done it before, some of us in other airplanes," Colonel Kane said. "It's the satisfaction of knowing our graduates have dropped all the weapons they're going to use in combat. They have the officership and professionalism, both in the air and on the ground, to support any mission the Air Force throws at them. The satisfaction is knowing that I have been there and done that, I'm imparting my experiences on to them in the hopes that they do a good job and carry on the United States."
