News>Barksdale Total Force package produces weapons graduates
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Maintenance personnel prepare a 93rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress for a sortie in support of the Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. A combined maintenance team of 45 personnel from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise and generated 14 aircraft sorties, resulting in a 100 percent mission capable rate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brad Boyd, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, updates the aircraft forms on a B-52H Stratofortress in support of the Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. The ME is the capstone graduation exercise for soon to be Weapons Officers, and B-52s from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, at Barksdale AFB, deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Matt Guasco, a B-52 instructor pilot, highlights areas on a range map while leading a mission briefing in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. Guasco is assigned to the 340th Weapons Squadron at Barksdale AFB, La., and is the senior ranking B-52 undergraduate officer attending the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
An aircraft mechanic prepares to start a preflight inspection on a 93rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress prior to a sortie in support of the Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. Maintenance personnel from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings, Barksdale AFB, La., deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
Flight gear sits to be loaded on a B-52H Stratofortress prior to a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. The Air Force Reserve Command provided three B-52s for the exercise, all of which were assigned to the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Holmes, 340th Weapons Squadron radar navigator, inspects the targeting pod on a B-52H Stratofortress prior to a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. Holmes is a United States Air Force Weapons School instructor and the ME is the capstone graduation exercise for soon to be Weapons Officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Terance Thomas, 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, closes the aircrew hatch of a B-52 Stratofortress prior to its taxiing for a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. The B-52 is assigned to the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A pilot of a B-52H Stratofortress prepares to taxi for takeoff in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. The B-52s are a part of a “Blue Force” assigned to destroy enemy targets while evading the enemy “Red Forces” which are trying to hunt them down. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Terance Thomas, 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, watches a B-52H Stratofortress taxi into the sunset during a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. Personnel from 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., generated 14 B-52 sorties in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A B-52H Stratofortress takes off in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. The 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., deployed three B-52s to Nellis in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A U.S. Air Force B-2 bomber takes off for a night mission in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, La., June 11, 2012. The ME is a joint exercise and gives both aircrew and maintenance personnel the opportunity to integrate and work side-by-side other major weapons systems, such as the B-1 and B-52 bombers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber takes off for a night mission in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 11, 2012. The ME is a joint exercise that gives both aircrew and maintenance personnel the opportunity to integrate and work side-by-side other major weapons systems, such as the B-1 and B-52 bombers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier II taxis down the flight line after returning from a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. The ME is a joint exercise incorporating all the services and dominating the battle space in the four contested domains of air, space, cyber and land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A B-52H Stratofortress returns from a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. The B-52 is one of three deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise and are assigned to the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Stuart Mighty, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals a B-52H Stratofortress to a parking after its return from a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. A combined maintenance team of 45 personnel from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise and generated 14 aircraft sorties, resulting in a 100 percent mission success rate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Stuart Mighty, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals a B-52H Stratofortress to a parking after its return from a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. A combined maintenance team of 45 personnel from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise and generated 14 aircraft sorties, resulting in a 100 percent mission success rate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
Maintenance personnel install a drag chute in the tail section of a B-52H Stratofortress after its return from a sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. The ME is the capstone graduation exercise for soon to be Weapons Officers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Stuart Mighty, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a post flight inspection on an Air Force Reserve Command B-52H Stratofortress after its return from a sortie in support of the Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. Personnel from 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., generated 14 B-52 sorties in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
The Las Vegas skyline shines behind three B-52H Stratofortress bombers on the flight line at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 11, 2012. The B-52s are assigned to the 93rd Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La., and deployed to Nellis in support of a Mission Employment exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kurt Schendzielos, 340th Weapons Squadron commander, congratulates a group of Airmen on their accomplishments following the launch of the last B-52 bomber sortie in support of a Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 12, 2012. Personnel from 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., generated 14 B-52 sorties for a 100 percent mission success rate, and six B-52 aircrew members graduated from the United States Air Force Weapons School. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
A 93rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress leaves Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for home after supporting a Mission Employment exercise, June 12, 2012. The 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., deployed three B-52s to Nellis in support of the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
The 307th Bomb Wing deployed three B-52H Stratofortress aircraft and 45 maintenance personnel to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in support of a Mission Employment (ME) exercise, June 10, 2012. The ME is the capstone graduation exercise for soon to be Weapons Officers, incorporating all the services and dominating the battle space in the four contested domains of air, space, cyber and land. (Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)
6/22/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Active duty and Reserve Airman, B-52 aircrews and maintainers from here combined to form a Total Force Enterprise package for a mission employment exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 4-15, 2012.
The exercise was the final training phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and capstone graduation exercise for soon-to-be weapons officers.
"It is a venue that integrates every platform involved in the weapons school," said Lt. Col. Kurt Schendzielos, 340th Weapons Squadron commander. "The mission employment phase culminates the learning for every weapons undergraduate student, proving their status as the Air Force's most highly trained joint warriors skilled in the art of battle space dominance."
The 340th WPS at Barksdale is a geographically separated unit assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis, which is also home of the USAF Weapons School. The 340th WPS trains the Air Force's most advanced tactical experts in the employment of the B-52H Stratofortress.
"Our participation in the ME trains our aircrews in being tactical experts in the B-52," said Maj. Erik Johnson, 340th WPS director of operations. "It gives us the chance to show off the capabilities of the B-52 and the full range of firepower it can bring to the joint fight."
The students flying in the exercise were from the Air Force Global Strike Command's 2nd and 5th Bomb Wings, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing. The 307th BW provided three B-52s in the exercise, along with 45 maintenance personnel comprised of both Reserve and active duty.
"It is definitely one of the biggest TFE success stories out here, spot on, seamless, you can't tell these units operate separately," said Capt. Michael Maginness, 340 WPS ME phase manager. "Starting from the time we deploy until the time we step foot back at Barksdale, we operate as one unit, and that's a testament to the quality of the people."
A total of 14 B-52 sorties were flown during the exercise, consisting of seven Vulnerability Periods, which were times the B-52s were responsible for executing missions which simulated the employment of 10 different types of weapons ranging from long-range cruise missiles to very short range general purpose gravity bombs.
"We flew in very complex, tactical environments," said Capt. Matt Guasco, B-52 instructor pilot and senior ranking undergraduate officer. "As a member of the Blue Force, we'd have as many as 40 Red Force aircraft concentrating on locating and destroying us."
The aircrews also had to contend with surface-to-air missile threats to their B-52s while coordinating bombing attacks with B-1 and B-2 bombers.
"The missions definitely keep us busy," said Guasco. "The experience was outstanding because we learn about tactics and integrating with other airframes, which is something we don't get to do often at home."
The B-52 maintenance personnel also experienced this integration by sharing facilities and equipment with B-1 bomber maintainers.
"It gives our people, especially the younger airmen, a chance to experience a combat type, deployed environment," said Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Mummery, 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We're supporting a lot of sorties, so the tempo is high and our work hours have to be flexible."
"In the end, the mission employment phase was a huge success and we were able to graduate six of the USAF's newest weapons officers," said Schendzielos. "The knowledge gained by their experiences throughout the syllabus and culminating with the ME phase ensures that the B-52 will continue to help win the nation's wars and our aviators will be able to return home safely after accomplishing the mission."
