An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | July 27, 2020

Eielson Fighters Fly South for Training, Boost Interoperability with Alaska Partners

By Tech. Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- In these uncertain times, day-to-day routines for people across the globe have been upended. There are many things that remain unclear yet even in the face of challenges like a runway closure amidst a global health pandemic, the Iceman Team perseveres.

The Wing closed the runway and flight line for routine maintenance July 8-16 sending the 356th Fighter Squadron and 18th Aggressor Squadron south to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage to continue their flying mission.

More than 150 personnel uprooted operations from home station to support numerous F-35A Lightning IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Although just for a short time, the TDY to JBER was the first major movement for Eielson’s F-35As since arriving to interior Alaska back in April. The Aggressors on the other hand have had a lot of practice taking their flying operations away from home with three to four mobile training team TDYs in a typical year.

“The biggest goal for us was to execute this initial movement and take [Pacific Air Force’s] F-35s off station, forward deploy to another station and operate from there,” said Maj. David Hickle, the 356th FS assistant deputy of operations. Hickle currently flies the F-35A but is no stranger to the 354th Fighter Wing having spent three years flying as an Aggressor prior to switching airframes.

Exercising the big muscle movements involving aircraft, aircrew, maintainers and support personnel is an essential part of maintaining flexibility and strengthening unit cohesion; and the benefits ripple across the board, up and down the ranks.

“[This TDY] was a great learning experience and opportunity because it allowed us the opportunity to work with our entire team as one away from the comforts of home station,” said Airman 1st Class Cameron Rogers, a 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-35A avionics apprentice. “TDYs like this give us the chance to show the outstanding mission capabilities of our F-35 program.”

An essential part of the expanding airpower presence in Alaska is in the partnership between Eielson and JBER. Together, the two bases will be home to the highest concentration of fifth generation aircraft in the world. The only thing more impressive and integral to mission success is perhaps the enduring relationship among the Airmen.

“We know a lot of [the JBER personnel] just from phone calls and working closely over the years but we get a lot better interaction with folks just being face-to-face. It becomes a much more personal interaction and you get to really know the people that you’re going to be working with, training with and going to war with at some point,” Hickle explained. “That camaraderie and that tight-knit community is what you need in order to have effective, lethal fighting force.”

As Eielson’s mission expands, the demands will increase. The arrival of the first F-35As marked the beginning of a renewed combat-focused mindset for the wing. Every milestone since then, including training opportunities like the one at JBER, moves the wing forward along the path to building a more lethal force in the far north.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Pacific Partnership 2023 Arrives in Malaysia
KUANTAN, Malaysia (Sept. 6. 2023) Pacific Partnership 2023 and Malaysian Armed Forces leadership pose for a photo during the Pacific Partnership 2023 Malaysia opening ceremony, Sept. 6, 2023. Now in its 18th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Megan Alexander)
Sept. 6, 2023 - Pacific Partnership 2023 has arrived in Kuantan, Malaysia to conduct the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific, Sept. 6...

USSTRATCOM Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton visits Japan First overseas visit demonstrates ironclad commitment to allies
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of the Joint Staff, shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), before departing from the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 4, 2023. This is Cotton’s first visit to the Western Pacific since becoming the USSTRATCOM commander. Cotton’s visit and engagements demonstrates the ironclad commitment of the United States to combined, key regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
Sept. 6, 2023 - Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), held several key engagements with senior leaders in Japan, Sept. 1-4, as part of his first visit to the Western Pacific since becoming the USSTRATCOM...

U.S., Philippine Navies conduct bilateral sail to enhance interoperability
230904-N-NF288-016 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Sep. 04, 2023) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) sails alongside the Republic of the Philippines Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150) during a bilateral sail in the South China Sea, Sep. 4. Ralph Johnson is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jamaal Liddell)
Sept. 6, 2023 - U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and Philippine Navy guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) conducted a bilateral sail in the South China Sea Sept. 4, to enhance the...

Tamiok Strike strengthens bonds between Wisconsin Guard, Papua New Guinea
Soldiers with the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry Regiment, trained with soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Royal Pacific Infantry Regiments, Papua New Guinea Defence Force, during Tamiok Strike 2023 at Taruma Barracks, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea beginning July 31. Tamiok Strike 23 is sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific, and hosted by the PNGDF with U.S. forces under the command of the 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Support Command.
Sept. 5, 2023 - Capt. Michael Cuevas, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s Troop C, 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry Regiment, reflected on the historic nature of his unit’s participation in Tamiok Strike 2023 — a two-week joint...

Operational Staff Exercise Super Garuda Shield Opening Ceremony
The participants of staff exercise portion of Super Garuda Shield 2023 (SGS23) pose for a group photo after the opening ceremony, August 31, 2023, Surabaya Indonesia. #SuperGarudaShield 2023 is an annual exercise that has significantly grown in scope and size since 2009. #SGS2023 is the second consecutive time this exercise has grown into a combined and #joint event, highlighting the 6 participating and 12 observing nations’ commitment to #partnership and a #freeandopenindopacific. (US Air National Guard Photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Lee Jackson)
Sept. 1, 2023 - The Super Garuda Shield 2023, operational staff exercise kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Warfighting Center in Surabaya, Indonesia this morning...