Airmen train in Arctic Circle

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. David Liapis
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFNS) --  More than 200 Airmen from here arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 20 and 21 to participate in an exercise with some of the Air Force's most advanced operational fighter squadrons.

The 209 members of the 391st Fighter Squadron and aircraft maintenance unit will spend approximately three weeks in Alaska, flying with F-22 Raptors from JB Elmendorf's 90th FS and the 525th FS. The Idaho-based unit will play the aggressor and also work on the integration of two different generations of aircraft.

"We will not just be supporting the (F-22s), but rather (we) will be working toward the effective integration of the F-15E (Strike Eagle) with a fifth-generation fighter," said Lt. Col. Brian McCarthy, the 391st FS commander.

In addition to the integration mission, 391st Airmen will be flying "red air" (flying as aggressors) against the F-22s just as Mountain Home's 389th FS has done for the Raptors from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., for the past few weeks at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

The Airmen from Mountain Home AFB will have the opportunity to engage in air-to-air strafing while flying near the Arctic Circle, said Capt. Raymond Rounds, a pilot from the 391st FS.  The Airmen also will get to fly "blue air", flying as partners, with the F-22s against F-16 Fighting Falcon "aggressors" from the 354th Fighter Wing from Eielson AFB, Alaska.,

While the pilots fly over the northern tundra, many maintenance Airmen will be on the ground supporting the jets.

"(Operations don't) go anywhere without maintenance," said Chief Master Sgt. Todd Connolly, the 391st AMU NCO in charge. The chief said he believes the Airmen of the 391st FS and AMU have an excellent relationship.

"Only through the excellent, professional work of the AMU working weekends and nights are we able to get the training we need," Captain Rounds said. "Their efforts enable us to support the Raptors and their training to be prepared to counter any future threats."