442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
About 200 reservists and approximately a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 442nd Maintenance and Operations Group left today for Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in Distant Frontier, a live-munitions exercise. The 442nd MXG and OG are part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Wilson) Full size
7/13/2012 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- About 300 reservists and a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft left today for Eielson AFB, Alaska, to participate in Distant Frontier, a live-munitions exercise.
The training will allow Airmen to gain experience in areas within their career fields that will promote mission readiness and team building.
"The wide open spaces of Alaska will allow us to employ munitions we couldn't usually utilize," said Col. Gregory Eckfeld, 442nd Fighter Wing Vice commander. "This'll be great training for everybody, especially our munitions folks who'll get to build and deploy live weapons."
Airmen will have to take continual caution and be aware of their wingmen as the work areas will provide safety risks.
"The biggest deal for maintainers are the live loads, which will provide extremely valued training with hints of danger in there," said Col. Michael Wood, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Group commander.
Wood said success would be defined by displaying the ability to safely launch all the sorties with as few maintenance problems as possible, accurately release the weapons and find some time to unwind.
"The wing has been working overtime with three readiness inspections right before a deployment," Eckfeld said. "Their off time up there allows them to enjoy a relaxing environment in the outdoors of Alaska."
The reservists are expected to return in approximately two weeks after conducting training that will make deployable Airmen even more ready for Air Force operations around the world.
About 200 reservists and approximately a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 442nd Maintenance and Operations Group left today for Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in Distant Frontier, a live-munitions exercise. The 442nd MXG and OG are part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Wilson) Full size
Note: Pictured is A-10C 164, named Jefferson City.
About 200 reservists and approximately a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 442nd Maintenance and Operations Group left today for Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in Distant Frontier, a live-munitions exercise. The 442nd MXG and OG are part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Wilson) Full size
Note: Pictured is A-10C 136, named Thunderbolt of B...
About 200 reservists and approximately a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 442nd Maintenance and Operations Group left today for Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in Distant Frontier, a live-munitions exercise. The 442nd MXG and OG are part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Wilson) Full size
Source (including 4 photos)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment