Langkawi, Malaysia –
The Pacific Air Forces' F-16 Fighting Falcon Demonstration Team is an integral
part of the command's ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. ties with its mission
partners in the Pacific region.
Eight aircrew members and one pilot from
Misawa Air Base, Japan, come together to provide the sole fighter demonstration
team in PACAF, travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region to showcase the combat
capabilities of the Fighting Falcon and represent the U.S. Air Force in the
international community.
The latest engagement, the Langkawi
International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015 in Malaysia, marks the
team's third successful airshow this year.
"When we travel to these shows
we interact with members of the international militaries and represent the Air
Force and the U.S. as a whole by putting a positive image out there people can
relate to," said Capt. Michelle Hamland, PACAF F-16 Demo Team safety officer.
"We've been received really well. Everyone is welcoming because they are
impressed with the professionalism of the team. We always get positive
feedback."
According to Hamland, the shows offer a unique opportunity for
the demo team to work side-by-side with military members from partnering nations
and gain insight and perspective into the way business is done.
"These
events are a good learning opportunity for us and them," she said. "We get to
see the structure of different militaries and how they operate and we put a face
and a name to the U.S. Air Force for them, which could be huge down the line
when future decisions are made. What we do definitely has a tangible
impact."
While at the shows, the aircraft demo highlights the speed as
well as the overall maneuverability of the jet, while the ground show displays
the precision and expertise of the aircrew.
However, Hamland said it's
not the performance that makes the team an important PACAF asset, but the
face-to-face interaction with the local military members and airshow attendees
that makes the biggest impact.
"Meeting the people on the ground is just
as equally important as the show. When we go out to the shows and actually shake
hands, greet kids, pass out stickers and have conversations with people we have
an opportunity to set their opinion of the Air Force and the U.S. more than
anything else they may have seen," she said. "People are really most excited
when the show is over and they have an opportunity to meet the pilot who just
put on that awesome show, or shake hands with Airmen."
Staff Sgt. Ben
Simard, PACAF F-16 Demo Team crew chief, said being on the team allows he and
his fellow Airmen a chance to "motivate, dedicate and inspire."
"Our
professionalism is a direct representation of the professionalism of the Air
Force," he said. "For some people we are the only Americans they will ever see
in real life, and when we do our shows you can tell by the looks on their faces
that that image is going to stay with them forever."
Simard said being on
the team involves quite a bit of multitasking when traveling. Not only do the
aircrew members serve as U.S. ambassadors through crowd interaction, they also
fulfill their traditional aircraft maintenance roles before and after each
flight.
"I definitely feel we are building lasting connections," he said.
"We're not just shaking hands and telling stories we're fostering
relationships."
Simard said the community interaction at the shows is
definitely not something to be taken lightly. Members of the team feel a sense
of responsibility to conduct themselves and perform to the highest standards
possible.
"When we're on the road we're the face of our country," he
said. "If we behave negatively that's all some people will take away so it's our
responsibility to maintain a positive image."
For Senior Airman Enrique
Verbera, PACAF F-16 Demo Team crew chief, it's not just winning over the hearts
and minds of the crowd that motivates him to, but gaining the respect of his
foreign counterparts as well.
"I like getting the opportunity to work
with the foreign demo teams," he said. "We're always trading stories... we help
them and they help us whenever possible."
Verbera said being at the shows
and seeing how excited the crowd and other demo teams are to see their
performance brings an added sense of pride in his work.
"We really get to
see just how awesome what we do is when we travel to the shows," he said. "When
we do our job right we get everything from four-star generals telling us they
got goosebumps to small kids running up to hug us. It really puts it into
perspective."