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CNAF Air Boss Visits Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080213-11
Release Date: 2/13/2008 1:47:00 PM

From Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Public Affairs

FALLON, Nev. (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), Vice Adm. Thomas Kilcline Jr., visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon Jan. 31 to participate in and observe Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 training at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC).

While at NAS Fallon, Kilcline flew an F-5 Tiger II with the "Fighting Saints" of Reserve Squadron (VFC) 13 as part of an aggressor package to observe and evaluate the CVW-14's training. The Fighting Saints adversary aircraft support both carrier air wing and TOPGUN training at NSAWC.

"We will fight like we train. The Saints of VFC-13 and NSAWC provide training opportunitites with realistic threat profiles," Kilcline said. "Participating in air wing training events allows me to understand our wings readiness as we prepare them for deployment."

NSAWC Carrier Air Wing training emphasizes integration. Notably, this is the first time all CVW-14 squadrons trained together on NAS Fallon's 10,200 square miles of air space.

During the four-week event, all air wing assets converged at NAS Fallon from their respective home bases and operated together learning other platforms, capabilities and limitations as they apply to strike warfare and projecting power from the sea.

After training, they will join Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 7 on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for the next phase of their pre-deployment training cycle

"Naval aviation is a team effort. No matter how skilled we are as individuals, we can only be effective when we work together as a team," said Kilcline. "The training here at NSAWC solidifies that teamwork in the air wing so that the squadrons operate seamlessly in combat."

CVW-14 will apply the newly-learned integrated strike warfare tactics during their NSAWC training during the Advanced Training Phase that simulates an air warfare campaign. During this final phase, CVW-14 will be faced with an evolving scenario requiring them to plan and execute both day and night missions over a 96 hour period with the results of each mission influencing the planning and execution of each subsequent mission.

While detached to NAS Fallon, airwings receive unmatched, end-to-end training in strike warfare.

"Carrier air wing training is administered by professional instructors who are well versed in both U.S. and potential adversary tactics," said NSAWC Strike Department Head, Cmdr. Keith Taylor. "This training ensures that regardless of where the CSG deploys, the air wing will be lethal in their employment."

For more news from Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsawc/.