Pilots, ground forces train at Poinsett

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Emily Chilson
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  From Air Force and Marine fighter jets to Army helicopters, military pilots put bombs, and bullets, on target at Poinsett Electronic Combat Range. 

According to Frank Bordeaux, Poinsett Electronic Combat Range operations officer, the primary mission is to train Department of Defense aircrews in air-to-ground bombing and gunnery, and in electronic countermeasures. 

"I am responsible for all range maintenance and day-to-day operations," Bordeaux said. "I coordinate with all outside agencies to control what goes on in the air and on the ground at Poinsett." 

Originally called Poinsett Bombing Range, Poinsett has been Shaw's primary training range since it opened concurrently with Shaw in 1952. The range transitioned from military to civilian in 1988. 

While F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Strike Eagles, F/A-18 Hornets and AC-130s practice dropping bombs and shooting bullets, ground forces also use the range for training purposes. The southern-most area of the range is fenced off for survival, evasion, resistance and escape training, as well as convoy and night-driving training. 

"The range is part of the 20th Fighter Wing Operations Support Squadron," he said. "We are open to the public, however since we opened our tactical range 2.5 miles down range, the majority of our flights elect to use that range, which pretty much limits what the public gets to observe." 

The tactical range is made up of simulated buildings, tanks, convoys and missile sites.
 
"All vehicles [targets] have been de-mil(itarized)," Bordeaux said. "All liquids and glass are removed; no fuel or oil, and the differentials and transmissions are dried out. It's what I have to do before I can bring it out here on the range so there is no ecological problem." 

According to Bordeaux, the range is usually the last stop pilots make on their mission. 

"Usually 20th Fighter Wing aircraft will enter the range anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 feet from the south or east," said Capt. Christopher Mulder, 20th OSS. 

Pilots drop or practice dropping inert munitions on various targets, and according to Bordeaux, they dropped 100 munitions last month. 

"They drop training weapons, we don't have any live munitions at all," Bordeaux said. "They're full-scale bombs filled with sand and concrete, and some are 1,000-pounders."
While training at Poinsett, pilots receive real-time scores on the accuracy of their missions so they can make adjustments or improvements accordingly. Their score sheets are also printed out and faxed to their respective squadron. 

"Bombing is scored by television," Bordeaux said. "It's just like a video game. We watch from the cameras in the towers." 

But strafing is scored differently than bombing. Instead of cameras, microphones are placed near the targets to measure the accuracy of the bullets. 

"Each target has eight microphones on it for scoring strafing, to listen for bullets," he said. 

At Poinsett, environmental concerns are handled by Shaw Air Force Base environmental, in the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron. Controlled burns are necessary to prevent fires on the range, and firefighters are required to be on-site at the range daily before Poinsett can begin operations. 

"We have the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species," Bordeaux said. "Trees marked with white stripes are woodpecker trees, so we know to leave them alone and not damage them. We've got a wildlife biologist, a forester and an archaeological expert." 

Noise generated by the aircraft that use Poinsett is often a concern for the residents living around or near the range. According to Captain Mulder, when pilots fly in particular patterns, they are briefed on noise sensitive areas, and fly at altitudes that lessen excessive noise below. 

"We protect our neighbors by briefing all range rules and regulations prior to flight," he said. "We only release munitions on certain targets within the range complex. There are also specific release criteria, altitude and heading, when releasing munitions." 

Although Poinsett is Shaw's primary training range and operated by the base, Shaw Airmen aren't the only ones who benefit from the use of Poinsett. 

"Shaw and McEntire are the primary users of the range, but F-15s from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., U.S. Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18s from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., and assorted other military units also use the range occasionally," said Art Byers, 20th OSS airspace manager. 

Besides watching planes drop munitions, the public may also consider Poinsett as viable hunting ground for deer and turkey if scheduled in advance. 

Poinsett Range hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. The range is located in Wedgefield, S.C., about 12 miles south of Shaw on state Highway 261. For more information, please call 803-666-4272 or 803-895-2597.