188th Ops Group conducts water survival training

Released by 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs



Specialists with the 188th Operations Group's Life Support Element administered water survival training to pilots with the 184th Fighter Squadron of the 188th Fighter Wing at Creekmore Park in Fort Smith, Ark., March 4, 2012. The training is required for aviators prior to deploying. The objective of the training is to prepare pilots for the potential of ejecting from their A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" while flying over water. The 188th Fighter Wing will deploy to Afghanistan this summer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It will be the unit's second combat deployment in the A-10. (National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Hannah Landeros, 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs) Hi-res

3/9/2012 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Specialists with the 188th Operations Group's Life Support Element administered water survival training to pilots with the 184th Fighter Squadron of the 188th Fighter Wing at Creekmore Park in Fort Smith, Ark., March 4, 2012.

The training is required for aviators prior to deploying. The objective of the training was to prepare pilots for the potential of ejecting from their A-10C Thunderbolt II "Warthogs" while flying over water. The 188th Fighter Wing will deploy to Afghanistan this summer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. It will be the unit's second combat deployment in the A-10.

The 188th's last Air Expeditionary Forces rotation was in 2010 when it deployed approximately 300 Airman to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The A-10's primary mission in southern Afghanistan is to fly close-air support in response to ground troops who may be in contact with the enemy, or to escort convoys in particularly hostile areas. When not supporting ground troops, A-10s patrol designated sectors and provides aerial reconnaissance on locations of interest to ground commanders.

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