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Eielson's Icemen hone skills in Singapore

PACAF News

Release Date: 11/03/2003

By 2nd Lt. Teresa Sullivan 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -"Blue Foxes" of the 18th Fighter Squadron and support personnel deployed to the Republic of Singapore Oct. 29 to participate in Commando Sling, an annual combined air-to-air combat training exercise.

Six F-16s, 12 pilots and 63 maintainers and support crew will have the chance to sharpen air combat skills, improve procedures for sustained operations at a non-U.S. base, and promote closer relations between the two countries, said Col. Gary Woltering, 354th Operations Group commander.

"This is a great opportunity for our pilots, aircrew and maintainers to put their war fighting skills to the test," said Colonel Woltering.

"We welcome the opportunity to train side-by-side with the Singapore Air Force."

The three-week exercise at Paya Lebar Air Force Base, Republic of Singapore will involve F-5 Tigers, A-4 Skyhawks and F-16 Falcons.

For Eielson pilots, the operation began with a 10-hour F-16 flight led by Lt. Col. Robert Cushing, 18th Fighter Squadron commander, to Kadena Air Base, Japan, where the pilots stayed overnight for crew rest. They flew the rest of the way to Singapore Oct. 30.

Other pilots, maintainers and support crewmembers arrived in Singapore via a KC-10 - one of two accompanying the 18th FS to Singapore. Additionally, a 168th Air National Guard KC-135 deployed with the Blue Foxes, providing aerial refueling for the F-16s.

Commando Sling is an excellent opportunity for maintenance troops to experience a contingency situation, according 1st Lt. Philip Broyles, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge of maintenance.

"This is a chance for the troops to excel - it's their time to shine," said Lieutenant Broyles. "The exercise is a great opportunity to put into play the maintenance effort that we put forth day-to-day at Eielson."

For some Icemen, this deployment will be their first time out of the country.

"This is the first time I've left the country," said the lieutenant. "Everyone's excited and looking forward to checking out the area."

Maintainers, pilots and support crewmembers gathered in the new Joint Mobility Complex prior to departure.

"It's been a smooth process using the Joint Mobility Complex," said Lieutenant Broyles. "This is a good way for us to see how the JMC works for when we have to go on a contingency deployment."

Commando Sling began in 1990 to provide combined air combat training for the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter units.

Exercise participants are scheduled to return at the end of November. (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)