MHAFB increases flying hours

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  In the past few years, fighter squadrons have been tested with sequestration and the inability to fly as much as needed to maintain full combat readiness due to budgetary constraints. 

However, in Fiscal Year 2015, MHAFB has the opportunity to achieve greater combat readiness than the past few years.  Air Combat Command has provided the Gunfighters a 16 percent increase in flying hours over FY 2014, resulting in nearly 11,000 total hours.

At the beginning of each fiscal year, the 366th Fighter Wing submits a proposal for the number of flying hours the 366th Operations and Maintenance Groups anticipate the Wing requires to achieve a combat mission ready status. These proposed hours are balanced with what the wing is able to fly based on manning levels. 

With the increase in flying hours given to the base and the reductions in maintenance group manning, the wing has had to make compromises between operational requirements and maintenance production capability. 

This year's flying hour program compromise ensures the fighter squadrons achieve approximately 95 percent of the necessary training to be fully combat ready. With this training, the squadrons will be able to enter combat with decreased risk.

"The increased flying hours allow our aircrew to receive optimized training toward their wartime task," said Col. Michael Lawrence, 366th MXG commander. "If successfully executed, this year's flying hour program leaves no doubt they will be ready."

Military readiness is a little complicated, but for the 366th FW it ultimately comes down to training aircrew to employ the F-15E in accordance with a Combatant Commander's needs.

Aircrew training requirements are defined by a minimum number of training sorties needed to gain proficiency in the various mission areas of the F-15E. These skills are highly perishable and proficiency is only maintained through repetitive practice.

Additionally, due to the responsive nature of airpower, air forces provide our nation immediate response options. This means Gunfighters have to maintain a high state of readiness at all times, and be ready to go at a moment's notice.

Although the greater flying hours may require an increased work load, it will result in a combat capable force ready to deploy and protect our nation.  This effort will require coordination throughout the Wing, the OG and MXG will take the lead in tracking and executing the work.

"We work in harmony with maintenance and operations," said Tobin Anderson, 366th Operations Support Squadron wing scheduling superintendent. "This ensures the operators can be current and qualified in their mission and the maintainers can provide aircraft for them to fly."

The 366th FW has a history of banding together to get the job done when presented with additional challenges and opportunities.  Last year after being stood down at the beginning of the fiscal year, additional flying hours were given mid-year and the MXG is now executing the mission with only three of its 24 career fields manned at 85 percent or above.

"It can be extremely taxing since we haven't actually experienced this level of increase before," said Tech. Sgt. Victoria Bailey, 366th MXG plans and scheduling section chief. "More than 1,700 flying hours are a major increase from what we executed last year, especially since we're working with less manpower than we have had in previous years."

Leadership realizes the benefits, as well as impacts, that come with this additional training.

"We are looking for signs of increased stress on a day-to-day basis, and hope to prevent it rather than react to it," said Lawrence. "Nothing gets done without the Airmen out there doing their jobs."

Because Airmen at all levels are essential to getting the job done, leadership wants to clearly communicate what the Wing has been asked to do.

"It's very important we explain the actual impact of why and what we're doing at every level," said Bailey. "We have some of the best and most qualified individuals out on the line, and we expect them to take what they've learned and apply it each and every day."

The Gunfighter history book is filled with stories of innovation to get the job done. Leadership anticipates accomplishing these flying hours will be another chapter in our Gunfighter heritage.

"We're going to get through this because we have an outstanding group of people who are dedicated to completing the hours," said Lawrence. "We're the Regulators, and we're locked and loaded for the challenge. We'll continue the legacy of teamwork, innovation and excellence the Gunfighters started in World War 2 and continued into Vietnam. That's just what we do!"

"This challenge is an opportunity to make sure the Wing is ready to fight and win our nation's wars if necessary," said Col. Dave Iverson, 366th FW commander .  "I know we will work hard to ensure we are combat ready, but we must also know our limitations and be ready to slow down when necessary. 

The Gunfighters have an incredible heritage of teamwork and supporting each other and the same spirit is alive and well today."