{"id":189001,"date":"2024-05-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=189001"},"modified":"2024-05-30T03:01:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T03:01:05","slug":"79th-tigers-take-on-checkered-flag-24-2-wsep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=189001","title":{"rendered":"79th \u2018Tigers\u2019 take on Checkered Flag 24-2, WSEP"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<p><strong class=\"article-detail-dateline\">TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) &#8212; \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>The <\/span><span>79th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron<\/span><span> \u2018Tigers\u2019 took part in Checkered Flag 24-2 and the Weapons System Evaluation Program at <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tyndall.af.mil\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span>Tyndall Air Force Base<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><span><strong> <\/strong>from May 9-22. These exercises aimed to enhance air combat readiness alongside 5th generation <\/span>aircraft and validate weapons systems and tactics in realistic, large-scale training scenarios.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Checkered Flag is a large force exercise involving over 60 <\/span>aircraft from across the joint branches, designed to prepare units for immediate response force missions by improving air combat tactics, aerial refueling operations and overall mission effectiveness. Concurrently, WSEP provides aircrew with live-fire training and evaluates weapons systems and tactics in simulated combat scenarios. The Tigers\u2019 participation aimed to enhance Airmen confidence in live-fire air-to-air operations while integrating 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft in a large-scale training environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>\u201cThe 79th participates by bringing the 4th generation [fighter aircraft] aspect into the exercise\u2026 alongside joint partner groups and other Air Force units,\u201d said Capt. Joshua Epley, 79th Fighter Squadron pilot. \u201cUsually at Shaw we practice amongst ourselves, F-16 versus F-16. This prepares us for a combat environment where multiple [airframes] can be brought together\u2026 <\/span>We\u2019ve had great experiences from how we operate at a different installation and how we integrate with other aircraft.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>WSEP provides ground crews and pilots with air-to-air missile and 20 mm gun live-fire training, focusing on evaluating and <\/span>validating weapons systems and tactics in simulated combat scenarios. The exercise supplies crucial data to system engineers, allowing them to improve aircraft and munition guidance systems for the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span>Department of Defense<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>\u201cWe fire live missiles for two reasons: to gather data on how the weapons systems will actually work and to give our pilots and loaders an opportunity to work with live munitions, some for the first time in their careers,\u201d said Tech. Sgt. Justin Talbert, 79th FGS weapons expeditor. \u201cDay to day, we train with [combat arms training and maintenance] missiles which have all the same technology, but <\/span>don\u2019t have the warhead. This exercise gives our people the opportunity to handle the real thing and provides much more realistic training.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Planning for the exercises began in early February and required coordination from multiple units within the 20th Fighter Wing to ensure successful deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>\u201cEnsuring our cargo, personnel and aircraft arrived on time involved crucial assistance from the 20th Logistic Readiness Squadron and various [unit deployment managers],\u201d said Master Sgt. Zachary Snook, 79th FGS production superintendent. \u201cPulling off a successful Checkered Flag\/WSEP [temporary duty] <\/span>couldn\u2019t have been done without\u2026 the 79th operations and maintenance project officers. Their leadership and coordination were instrumental in ensuring the smooth execution of all logistics and operations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>Lt. Col. Alexander <\/span>Prevendar, 79th FS commander, praised the efforts and morale of the squadron. \u201cWhen the [79th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadrons] deploy, we go as a mission generation force element. Having the opportunity to integrate here and get to know everyone on a personal level has been absolutely phenomenal,\u201d Prevendar said. \u201cMorale is super high\u2026 everyone wants to get the job done and be the best that they can be. I couldn\u2019t be more proud of everyone for furthering \u2018Tiger Nation.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span>The 79th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron \u2018Tigers\u2019 generated 111 sorties and flew over 230 hours to integrate 4th and 5th generation fighter <\/span>aircraft and test their ability to provide and sustain enemy anti-air suppression in a large-scale, realistic training environment. The units remain steadfast in seeking high-end, advanced training opportunities to enhance mobility, deployment, and employment capabilities to ensure the delivery of decisive combat airpower anytime, anywhere. <span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-split ntext breakout \">\n<div class=\"item\">\n<div class=\"body\">\n<section class=\"ast-brandedhr\">\n<div class=\"ast-brandedhr-line\">\n<p>                <title>U.S. Air Force Logo<\/title><\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) &#8212; \u00a0 The 79th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron \u2018Tigers\u2019 took part in Checkered Flag 24-2 and the Weapons System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base from May 9-22. These exercises aimed to enhance air combat readiness alongside 5th generation aircraft and validate weapons systems and tactics in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":189003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=189001"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":189004,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189001\/revisions\/189004"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/189003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=189001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=189001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=189001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}