F-15 pilots working to become better Airmen during stand-down

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  Eagle drivers aren't letting the grass grow under their feet during the current F-15 stand-down.

The 71st Fighter Squadron is taking advantage of every opportunity to continue training and learning in anticipation of the day when they can start flying and fighting again.

"During our stand-down, we at the 71st Fighter Squadron have been focusing on three primary things," said Lt. Col. Robert Garland, 71st FS commander. "We are working hard on physical fitness. We are working hard in the simulators on instrument and emergency procedures as well as academic situations where we get the entire squadron together in one room, put ourselves in different situations, in different types of threats, and get good cross-tell between our young guys all the way up to our most experienced guys, and it's been very effective."

With the average day for a fighter pilot stretching to nearly 14 hours, pilots rarely get the opportunity to come together and work out as a unit. During the stand-down, the Ironmen of the 71st are pumping iron and working out together as a team.

"It's been a phenomenal experience to be able to go to the gym and do team sports, do individual sports and then come back together," said Capt. Glenn Gonzales, 71st FS C-Flight commander.

Colonel Garland said he decided to make physical fitness for his pilots a priority during this time.

"Fighter pilots are responsible for working in a very demanding environment," he said. "So we're focusing on working out as individuals and as a team."

While any fighter pilot will say a simulator is no substitute for strapping into the cockpit and flying a real jet, Eagle drivers are getting as much simulator time as they can to keep up with every bit of training the machine can provide.

"The best use of a simulator is for instrument and emergency procedure proficiency," Colonel Garland said.

71st pilots have also been holding competitions amongst themselves during simulator training to keep things fresh, said Captain Gonzales. Even so, he said, the machines have limits.

"There's only so much you can do outside of the aircraft," he said.

One of the most effective uses of the down time has been with the cross-tells, Colonel Garland said. The squadron's youngest pilots spend time with the unit's most experienced and talk through different scenarios.

"The cross-tell is making our brand new Airmen who have only been here a few short weeks or months, learn as much as our experienced guys that have 2,000 or 3,000 hours in the F-15," Colonel Garland said. "So just getting the opportunity to sit in a room and mind-meld has proven very effective for us."

It's not a lecture on the finer points of combat, the commander said. Even the most inexperienced pilot is required to add their two cents.

"Every person has a voice," he said. "From our brand new F-15 pilot to our most experienced F-15 pilot. We put ourselves in various scenarios against all the different threats we could face in the world and ask, 'what would you do in this situation?' It's proven effective in building morale and confidence in our new wingmen."

Captain Gonzales said the cross-tale program yields dividends.

"Anytime you can share experiences with someone with more experience is beneficial," he said. "Our job is to make sure we're constantly prepared for when the Eagle jet gets spun back up and we are able to fly, that we're prepared physically, prepared mentally and we're prepared as far as academics are concerned."

Colonel Garland said it was important to keep striving to become better fighter pilots, even during a stand-down.

"This is the major leagues," he said. "What we're here to do is fly F-15s. Well, right now we're not doing that, so it's easy to find areas to focus on. And those are specifically what will make us better aviators and fighter pilots when we come back online and start fighting again."