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Airmen find efficiency in paradise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Sunshine, sandy beaches and bright blue seas weren't enough to distract more than 125 Reserve Airmen from a weekend jam-packed with training.

The Airmen, most of whom were from the 76th and 78th Air Refueling Squadrons here, packed into three KC-10 Extenders April 15 and flew to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, for three days of air, ground and water training.

The annual event is known as a "fly-away" and its purpose is to remove Airmen from the routine of their typical duty locations so they may better focus on refreshing their skills and learning new ones.

"Once away from base, we are able to aggressively schedule every minute of each member's day and ensure all training needed for the year is available," said Lt. Col. Dan Edwards, 78th ARS commander.

Edward's statement can be taken quite literally. The training began before the Airmen left the runway. An extra large contingent of maintainers, boom operators and loadmasters worked together to prepare the jets and load them with passengers and cargo. Those with more experience were able to share their tricks-of-the-trade with newer Airmen.

Once airborne, the aggressive training pace continued. The primary role of the KC-10 is to provide aerial refueling to other aircraft. An aircrew needs to be proficient at both giving and receiving fuel. The flight to Puerto Rico took more than three hours, which provided ample time for multiple pilots and boom operators to gain necessary experience at their respective functions.

The Airmen found further ways to maximize their time by conducting training courses while in-flight. One team taught skills necessary for surviving in a hazardous chemical, biological or radiation environment. Another team provided an expanded intelligence briefing.

Upon reaching Aguadilla, the pace continued. The Airmen held many of their training sessions at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen. The station offered several amenities, such as on-base lodging and a community center which served as a classroom, that helped to minimize the overall cost of the trip, said Capt. Michael Petruska, one of the fly-away's primary organizers from the 78th ARS. The station's geography contributed to the training efficiencies as a combat survival class was taught in a jungle-like wooded area on-base and a water survival class was taught on a nearby beach.

Finally, the station's long runway and dry weather provided conditions allowing more flight-training opportunities. Flights carrying heavy loads and formations of more than two aircraft require certain runway conditions which aren't always available on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Since so many Airmen were scheduled to participate in flight training in such a short timeframe, the fly-away's planners couldn't afford the risk of wet weather, said Capt. Sean Flynn, who led the fly-away planning for the 76th ARS.

Petruska emphasized the efficiency and convenience of the location.

"This fly-away enabled us to offer nine different ground training classes combined with nine training sorties to maximize our readiness," he said. "The Puerto Rico location enabled us to get these events accomplished without the necessity of long travel times."

Though the trip allowed the Reserve Airmen to maximize their training requirements, it was no easy event to pull off.

"It is very challenging to generate three aircraft in these days of high operations tempo and an aging fleet," said Edwards. "We couldn't have had such a successful training weekend without the support of the maintenance team, our partners in the 305th Air Mobility Wing and all of the trainers who went on the road with us."

Petruska said he received a lot of support and assistance in the planning and organization of the fly-away.

"Without the great help of 514th Operations Support Squadron in conjunction with the 514th Maintenance Group, we would not had the jets to do this," he said.

Despite the challenges or organizing the event, Edwards explained why the fly-away is important for a Reserve unit.

"All flying squadrons with Air Mobility Command have people scattered around the globe every day, so it is a rare occasion when a squadron can be together," he said. "This is especially challenging for a Reserve flying squadron whose members don't live in the local area."

Maximizing training wasn't the only benefit of the three-day fly-away.

When not actively involved in a class or training exercise, the Airmen were able to socialize and network with one another in a casual environment, Flynn said.

"When we assemble as a whole, we have the opportunity to share our collective experiences and learn things about one another that might not rise out of the occasional cockpit conversation," Edwards said. "Most importantly the fly away gives us the opportunity to reflect on the past year, celebrate our successes, and say farewell to those of us who are moving on."