Earlier this month, I returned from my second Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, NV...the first took place back in the fall of '06 (click here for that post) when I was stationed at Aviano AB, Italy. As with my first exercise, I flew as a wingman during the two weeks of training. This time it was not because I was new to the F-16, but because I was new to the Block 50 missions of SEAD and DEAD as previously discussed in early posts. Our flight from Shaw AFB took about 4.2 hours with two air-to-air refuelings before the runway at Nellis was in sight...it's quite the skyline when landing to the south at Nellis seeing the Vegas strip in the distance. It didn't take long to realize we were not in SC anymore after landing. As soon as I raised the canopy I was sitting in 110° heat, but this time without the humidity of the southeast! I was back in "Fighter Town USA!"
Similar to '06, there were many foreign countries participating in the exercise looking to grown and learn from our training tactics...the parking ramp full of fighter jets, which is always a cool sight to see. International flags are sometimes frustrating as communication and tactics can be difficult/different, but in the end of the day flying in a large force exercise (LFE...with 50-60 aircraft) is always a good learning experience. It was especially good for me to fly and execute the new missions in such an environment. Upon returning to Shaw I started the Block 50 instructor pilot upgrade (IPUG), so this training has helped as I brief and fly in an instructor role.
While at Nellis we had a squadron naming (an event where new pilots to the squadron get their first name, or keep a previous name if coming from another active duty base). There were five of us total who were named, and I kept "Nuke" which for those who don't know stands for "no understanding kills everything" from a bafoonerous thing I did as young wingman back at Aviano. Tradition is if a pilot has flow with a certain callsign in war and dropped bombs (Iraq for me) and served in all three US Air Force Commands (USAFE, PACAF and ACC...which I know have), they cannot be renamed. So, naturally I kept Nuke.
Now that I've been in the Air Force for almost 7.5 years, the circle of friends Lana and I have has grown quite a bit. Two couples we know well, one from Aviano and the other from Kunsan, are now stationed at Nellis and I was able to meet up with both of them for dinner. Here in a couple of weeks I'm flying back to Nellis, and this time Lana and Liam will accompany me to catch up with our friends there. It will be good to have them both rather than separated!
Today I took over as C-Flight Commander in the squadron; a job that I have been looking forward to for a while now. As in all military organizations, a fighter squadron has rank structure...setting the chain of command and letting everyone know who the "boss" is from top to bottom. In all squadrons is the Commander (1), Director of Operations (1), Flight Commanders (3), Shop Chiefs (6) and then those who work in the respective shops (about 20). I have about 7.7, Double Down, pilots in my flight who I'm responsible for. This includes writing their performance reports and awards packages, taking care of their weekly simulator / flight training, working with the director of ops to facilitate a smooth operating squadron, etc. It's a chance for me to put aside my Air Force goals and desires to help those in my flight reach theirs. It's a leadership role many, but not all, pilots will find themselves in at about the 6-7 year mark in their career and one I appreciate the opportunity to have!
Since I had a four day weekend for the 4th, Lana, Liam and I took a trip to Savannah, GA and Hilton Head Beach. Savannah is a very nice and old town (1733) with many small park-like squares, outdoor restaurants and shops. On the drive down, Lana called some good friends of ours, who we met in Korea, just to see how they were doing. Little did we know, they had stopped in Savannah on their way to Florida, so we naturally met up for dinner downtown. After dinner, we took a walk along River Street before calling it a night.
The next day Lana, Liam and I went to Tybee Beach about 30 minutes east of downtown Savannah. It takes a little more time now with Liam, but we still enjoyed the beach. As long as Liam has a full belly, he usually sleeps. So, Lana took care of that and laid him under an umbrella to sleep. Each one of us took turns swimming while the other watched Liam.
Later that night, we made our way back to the same restaurant we had eaten at the night before since the food was so good. It was also the 4th of July, so we also made our way back to the popular River Street. The firework show was pretty good and Liam enjoyed it too.
The next day we make a 45 minute drive north into South Carolina again to Hilton Head Beach for 3-4 hours. The routine of one watching while the other swam was the same, until an older lady near us said she'd love to hold Liam while we swam. It was an offered we accepted and appreciated. Our weekend trip, Liam's first mini holiday, was an enjoyable one which was hope to do again sometime. Actually, Lana enjoyed Hilton Head Beach so much that she has made a three day reservation for her and two of her friend's from Germany in August.
The beginning of May, my squadron returned from their deployment to Balad, Iraq...the same base I had been deployed to the beginning of 2007. It is nice to have them back and I'm looking forward to flying with them soon. My clearance paperwork, after about 4.5 months, finally has come through so I'll be able to fly more now. I'll first go through some academics and simulators before flying. I'll first become a wingman as I continue to learn the new SEAD / DEAD mission and eventually go through another short instructor pilot upgrade before taking on the the role of instructor. The squadron will be busy over the next few months with Red Flag, Weapons School support (both of those at Nellis AFB, NV) and then another trip later in Oct/Nov.
Lana and I continue to settle in here in Sumter, and are enjoying every moment of being parents. Liam is a such a great baby...God is good!
Liam Sean Ferguson! No words can explain how happy you make your parents feel. We love you!
Earlier this month, I returned from my second Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, NV...the first took place back in the fall of '06 (click here for that post) when I was stationed at Aviano AB, Italy. As with my first exercise, I flew as a wingman during the two weeks of training. This time it was not because I was new to the F-16, but because I was new to the Block 50 missions of SEAD and DEAD as previously discussed in early posts. Our flight from Shaw AFB took about 4.2 hours with two air-to-air refuelings before the runway at Nellis was in sight...it's quite the skyline when landing to the south at Nellis seeing the Vegas strip in the distance. It didn't take long to realize we were not in SC anymore after landing. As soon as I raised the canopy I was sitting in 110° heat, but this time without the humidity of the southeast! I was back in "Fighter Town USA!"
Similar to '06, there were many foreign countries participating in the exercise looking to grown and learn from our training tactics...the parking ramp full of fighter jets, which is always a cool sight to see. International flags are sometimes frustrating as communication and tactics can be difficult/different, but in the end of the day flying in a large force exercise (LFE...with 50-60 aircraft) is always a good learning experience. It was especially good for me to fly and execute the new missions in such an environment. Upon returning to Shaw I started the Block 50 instructor pilot upgrade (IPUG), so this training has helped as I brief and fly in an instructor role.
While at Nellis we had a squadron naming (an event where new pilots to the squadron get their first name, or keep a previous name if coming from another active duty base). There were five of us total who were named, and I kept "Nuke" which for those who don't know stands for "no understanding kills everything" from a bafoonerous thing I did as young wingman back at Aviano. Tradition is if a pilot has flow with a certain callsign in war and dropped bombs (Iraq for me) and served in all three US Air Force Commands (USAFE, PACAF and ACC...which I know have), they cannot be renamed. So, naturally I kept Nuke.
Now that I've been in the Air Force for almost 7.5 years, the circle of friends Lana and I have has grown quite a bit. Two couples we know well, one from Aviano and the other from Kunsan, are now stationed at Nellis and I was able to meet up with both of them for dinner. Here in a couple of weeks I'm flying back to Nellis, and this time Lana and Liam will accompany me to catch up with our friends there. It will be good to have them both rather than separated!
