22nd Fighter Squadron participates in Allied Strike 2010

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kathleen Polesnak
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  Members of the 22nd Fighter Squadron here will participate in Allied Strike 2010 when they launch two F-16 Fighting Falcons twice a day Aug. 2 through 5.

The 16 pilots flying the sorties are part of approximately 200 servicemembers and 24 aircraft from the U.S. and five European nations participating in AS10. The exercise is Europe's annual close-air support exercise held to conduct robust, realistic CAS training and assists in building partnership capacity among allied NATO nations and joint services to refine the latest operational CAS tactics.

This exercise will not only provide 22nd FS pilots necessary training for downrange operations, but also help support required flight lead upgrades normally accomplished during routine sorties, said Capt. Dan Schreiber, a 22nd FS pilot.

The 22nd FS pilots will focus on air-to-ground and CAS missions, as well as the delivery of live and simulated munitions.

About 80 percent of the 22nd FS pilots slated to participate have never experienced the annual joint exercise before, Captain Schreiber said.

"I'm looking forward to getting some realistic training with the scenarios they have available at the ranges," he said. "It's realistic training we couldn't receive to that level outside of this exercise."

AS10 is essential to the 22nd FS because it focuses on CAS, the squadron's primary mission while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom missions, Captain Schreiber said.

Having the 22nd FS involved in AS10 is beneficial to all servicemembers involved in the exercise, especially for NATO joint terminal attack controllers and fellow pilots, Captain Schreiber said.

"It helps to integrate both sides," the captain said. "It's the JTACs talking to the pilots, the pilots talking to the JTACs -- whether (the pilots) are Brits, Germans, Belgians -- it helps JTACs deal with foreign countries and highlight some of the differences and smooth over the entire process."