Shaw's alert Airmen train with S.C. Civil Air Patrol

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Shaw's alert Airmen participated in a Fertile Keynote exercise Aug. 11, which included aircraft piloted by volunteers of the South Carolina wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

The training exercise occurs five to six times per month and gives the 20th Fighter Wing air sovereignty alert Airmen experience with different scenarios, said Maj. Benjamin Price, 20th Fighter Wing alert force director of operations.

"The training we get from this exercise is crucial, and it's training we can't get unless we actually go up in the air and fly against small, general aviation aircraft," he said.

Shaw's alert force ensures a rapid response to real-world situations, Major Price explained. Shaw provides assistance for possible threats in the skies in the Eastern Air Defense Sector, so if a plane is not cooperating with local air traffic control instructions, or an adverse situation occurs, Shaw's ASA pilots take to the sky to defuse and resolve the situation.

The alert force is manned by many maintainers and pilots 24/7, 365 days a year, Major Price said. Airmen here ensure a very fast response time when called upon to deal with potential threats. When the loudspeaker shouts, "Scramble, scramble, scramble," all Airmen immediately drop what they're doing and run out to the aircraft to get them up in the air as fast as possible.

"The Civil Air Patrol (fly) scenarios, so we can practice with a real target," Major Price said.

Each scenario is different, said Capt. Joe Palen, 20th FW ASA assistant director of operations. For this exercise, the Civil Air Patrol flies a plane, which simulates it is not responding to air traffic control. Shaw's ASA pilots quickly intercept the plane, investigate, get the tail number, and try to establish contact. The actions pilots take depend upon the circumstances.

"The exercise ended with our fighters intercepting the simulated wayward aircraft and escorting it to a local airport," Captain Palen said. "This training is critical for real-world, slow-mover intercept. Typically, an F-16 only sees airspeeds of 100 knots twice per sortie, on takeoff and landing roll, so to have the opportunity to intercept and direct slow-moving aircraft adds an element of realism we can't generate ourselves."

Overall, the exercise was successful in providing Airmen with the training they need to be prepared. 

"I am extremely pleased with the training we received today," said Lt. Col. Michael Richardson, 20th FW ASA commander. "Our entire team proved again how well they can execute a quick, effective and safe scramble launch with no warning. Once airborne, our pilots demonstrated highly efficient skills to determine the nature of the situation and resolve it using correct procedures and airborne maneuvers.

"With the high-fidelity training we get in Fertile Keynote exercises, I can assure you that Shaw is ready and able to execute the ASA mission around the clock," Colonel Richardson concluded. "We continue a vigilant watch, and we ensure the security of the airspace over and around the southeastern United States."