Airmen train together during Commando Sling

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
PAYA LEBAR AIR BASE, Singapore --  Airmen from the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, are here to train with Singaporean Airmen during exercise Commando Sling 04-3.

The exercise runs until June 14 and provides a U.S. presence in Southeast Asia and realistic dissimilar aircraft air-to-air combat training for forces of both nations.

Lt. Col. Mark DeLong, commander of the deployed 36th FS, said the exercise is one of the best training opportunities for his pilots. Because of limited training with other aircraft in Korea, the experience they have gained here is invaluable, he said.

“Nearly every sortie or mission is against dissimilar aircraft,” he said. “The knowledge and skills of some of our pilots has quadrupled in the short amount of time we’ve been here.”

The exercise includes Osan F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Singaporean F-5, A-4 and F-16C aircraft.

The initial sorties were dedicated to orientation-type missions pitting one aircraft against another in basic fighter maneuvers. This “building-block” approach helps pilots familiarize themselves with the new airspace and procedures. Following these “warm-up” sorties, the exercise quickly evolved into more complex air-combat maneuvering with flights of up to eight aircraft for each force.

The pilots perform various air-defense and sweeps roles against enemy forces; but not all training happens in the air. After the aircraft land, crews from the 36th Aerospace Maintenance Squadron, also from Osan AB, ensure the jets are airworthy and ready to take off again for the next go.