Las Vegas Training is Big Step for 188th

Reported by: Kelsie Moger
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 @09:20pm CDT

Our own Kelsie Moger took flight with the 188th National Guard to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. And check this out, she shows us how these guys refuel a plane in mid-flight.

This is one of the 188th's fighter planes approaching for a mid-air refuel. It's trying to connect to this tanker's boom, kind of like a long gas line out the back of a big plane. For Lieutenant Colonel Ray Hunter, this kind of training on Nellis Air Force Base is do or die.

"We took baby steps, and then we took big boy steps. This is the big boy step," said Squadron Commander Lt. Colonel Ray Hunter.

The 188th took those baby steps during Operation Snowbird at an air force base in Tucson, Arizona, over a month ago. Now they're in Las Vegas, kicking it up a notch.

"Here, they're actually going up and doing air refueling. Snowbird was just go up, come back an hour and a half, two hours later. Here they've hit three-hour missions, some really long missions. I'd say this is more realistic," said Crew Chief Sgt. Lonnie Nicholson.

Being able to refuel in mid-air is tough, I got to try my hand at it. It takes precision, skill and maybe a little luck to get this connection. This is just one of the difficult steps Fort Smith pilots and maintenance crew members need to know before the trip ends. Others include going on night missions and communicating with ground crews.

"Coming out here, it incorporates us with the army where were working directly with them in a tactile scenario where we have to step it up a bit. We are now doing all the communications," said Lt. Colonel Hunter.

Since this is the last deployed training until the 188th leaves for Afghanistan in the spring, everyone is hoping the nerves don't get to them.

"I think I'd be lying to you if I said that the first time you went, you weren't a little nervous, because that would be fibbing. But once you've been a few times, you realize once you get in country. It's just like training, except it's real. You rest on your training, you rely on your training, and you know you've been given the best equipment the country can give you, the best training they can give you," said Lt. Colonel Hunter.

The war will be real for Fort Smith troops when they head out in March. Next week, they'll come back to the River Valley, until then, pilots will continue to practice this catch and release.

Video: Las Vegas Training is Big Step for 188th

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Related pictures of beautiful Kelsie Moger, released by 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs:



Kelsie Moger, a reporter with KFTA Fox 24, operates the boom on a KC-135K October 14, 2009, during a civic tour to Nellis AFB, Nevada. The goal of the tour was to observe the 188th Fighter Wing's deployment preparations for the unit's upcoming Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation in Afghanistan in spring 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Heath Allen, 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs) Hi-res



Kelsie Moger, KFTA Fox 24 reporter, handles a nonfunctioning Russian anti-aircraft weapon during a guided tour of the 547th Intelligence Squadron's Threat Systems Area, informally dubbed "The Petting Zoo," at Nellis AFB, Nevada, October 15, 2009, during a civic tour to the base. The primary objective was to observe the 188th's deployment preparations for the unit's upcoming Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation in Afghanistan in spring 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Brambl, 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs) Hi-res