notorious_eagle
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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An Unfamiliar Engagement
By 1Lt Kevin Manis
Recently, the 388th Fighter Wing from Hill AFB, Utah deployed to Pakistan in support of Exercise Falcon Talon. The objectives were to strengthen military-to-military relationships, improve combined air operations, ensure interoperability of forces, equipment & training, exercise U.S. capability to deploy in support of contingency operations, and enhance joint capability in the fight in the Global War on Terrorism. When 229 Airmen descended upon Shahbaz Air Base, Pakistan it culminated months of planning and marked only the second time the USAF had participated in an exercise within Pakistan. While deploying to the middle-east for joint exercises with allied nations is not uncommon, this particular exercise had significant diplomatic importance. After Iraq and Afghanistan this exercise was the top priority for CENTCOM and AFCENT commanders.
The USAF exercise participants comprised professionals from 20 different bases across the United States. The 388th Fighter Wing deployed 6 F-16s, pilots from the 34th Fighter Squadron, and Maintainers from the 388th Maintenance Group. I deployed as the OIC of the 34 Aircraft Maintenance Unit along with 89 other Airman representing the 388 MXG. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) participants included 4 squadrons flying F-16s, Mirage IIIs, Mirage Vs, and F-7s (MiG-21s). While USAF personnel engaged with PAF personnel on all levels throughout the exercise, our primary interaction was with maintainers from the 11th Arrows Squadron with whom we shared a maintenance facility. Coincidentally, they also flew F-16s which would prove important as Ill explain later.
The planning for this exercise was extensive. At around the 120-day mark our Operations and Maintenance project officers along with our Logistics Planners began coordinating with AFCENT planners on the exercise specifics. Since we would be operating from a bare base we conducted two site surveys. Typically when we go TDY for exercises such as Red Flag or Green Flag we can obtain some degree of support from the host unit in the form of support equipment or tools. This exercise however was much different. We had to plan for the worst in terms of bringing the equipment and spare parts necessary to sustain our aircraft for the duration of the exercise. This meant thinking of how we would handle every possible scenario both enroute and at the exercise location.
Enroute to Pakistan, we traveled through Lajes Field, Portugal and Sigonella NAS, Italy. As with most major aircraft movements, we built an ESTA (Expeditionary Site Transition Assistance) team consisting of a mix of maintenance specialists capable of fixing any aircraft discrepancies we may experience along the way. The transit went smoothly, and we even had the chance to see Sicily for a day. As soon as we hit the ground at Shahbaz AB, we were met by our ADVON (Advanced Echelon) team lead and Maintenance NCOIC, SMSgt Robert Block. He and his five-person team arrived four days prior and worked tirelessly setting up the flight line area and Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HASs) from which we would operate. With all aircraft and people in-place, it was time to start the exercise.
Regardless of the level of planning there will inevitably be challenges to overcome. This was the case on day 1 of flying. We planned to fly 2 gos for a total of 8 sorties per day with a 2.5-3 hour turn time between the 1st and 2nd go. Upon receipt of the flying schedule our Production Supervisor pointed out that we only had a 30 minute turn time. Upon speaking with my PAF Maintenance Officer counterpart from the 11th Arrows Squadron, we learned the PAF typically performs quick turn inspections whereas we do thru-flight inspections. Quick turns are an abbreviated version of thru-flights and do not take nearly as long to perform. In the end, we were able to negotiate a 1.5 hour turn time which was less than we planned for but considering the configuration we were flying was executable.
Another challenge was shipping parts to Shahbaz AB. Leading up to the exercise the big question was how long it would take to get something through customs in Pakistan. Well, we found out after the first few days of flying when a canopy actuator failed on one of our jets. At the time, canopy actuators were hard to get at home station so our only option was to CANN the part from an aircraft at Hill AFB and ship it commercially. Fortunately for us this happened early in the exercise giving us an opportunity to test the process. In the meantime, we had an NMC aircraft and only 5 FMC aircraft to support the flying schedule. The obvious question was did the maintainers from the 11th Arrows squadron bring a canopy actuator we could borrow until ours arrived? We have Block 40 F-16s; they fly Block 15s. After confirming with our Egress technicians that the actuators were interchangeable, I again approached my PAF counterpart to ask if they had one we could borrow. To our surprise they did and were willing to let us borrow it. We installed the PAFs actuator and were able to fix our aircraft. The actuator sent from home station arrived 6 days later and we returned the PAFs borrowed actuator. These are just two examples of how we were able to overcome challenges during the exercise by working closely with our PAF allies fulfilling the objectives of ensuring interoperability of forces and enhancing joint capability. (Pic 1)
The PAF maintenance personnel were motivated to engage our maintainers. Almost all spoke English clearly so language was not a barrier. They came armed and ready with both professional and personal questions. Typical conversations began with a work related question but would eventually diverge to more casual topics. They were very interested in how USAF personnel viewed them. I specifically recall an encounter with a PAF gentleman who was the equivalent of our Flight line Production Supervisor. I was in the 11th Arrows Squadron Maintenance Officers office one morning before the first go of the day when he walked in. He greeted me warmly and asked what I thought thus far about the people of Pakistan. I replied by saying that I found the Pakistanis Ive met to be very pleasant people. When I said that his face lit up and he smiled from ear-to-ear. He replied by saying that he wished people would not judge the people of Pakistan by what they see on TV.
The PAF was also eager to share their heritage. Following the first week of flying, we had the opportunity to experience local Pakistani culture when the PAF held their annual Basant Festival. The Basant Festival is a traditional event ushering in springtime. During the festival there was a parade in which each squadron built what is equivalent to a float, and entered the parade to the sound of local Pakistani music. We also participated in a tradition known as kite fighting and enjoyed customary Pakistani food. The festival gave us an opportunity to interact with PAF personnel in a more social setting. From a maintenance perspective the exercise was a resounding success. We were able to support all scheduled sorties with a 95.9% FMC rate operating from a bare base environment while working alongside a key GWOT ally. In the end, we learned valuable lessons both personally and professionally about our PAF allies which will undoubtedly strengthen our relationship with Pakistan.
About the Author: 1Lt Kevin Manis is the 34 AMU Assistant OIC for the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
By 1Lt Kevin Manis
Recently, the 388th Fighter Wing from Hill AFB, Utah deployed to Pakistan in support of Exercise Falcon Talon. The objectives were to strengthen military-to-military relationships, improve combined air operations, ensure interoperability of forces, equipment & training, exercise U.S. capability to deploy in support of contingency operations, and enhance joint capability in the fight in the Global War on Terrorism. When 229 Airmen descended upon Shahbaz Air Base, Pakistan it culminated months of planning and marked only the second time the USAF had participated in an exercise within Pakistan. While deploying to the middle-east for joint exercises with allied nations is not uncommon, this particular exercise had significant diplomatic importance. After Iraq and Afghanistan this exercise was the top priority for CENTCOM and AFCENT commanders.
The USAF exercise participants comprised professionals from 20 different bases across the United States. The 388th Fighter Wing deployed 6 F-16s, pilots from the 34th Fighter Squadron, and Maintainers from the 388th Maintenance Group. I deployed as the OIC of the 34 Aircraft Maintenance Unit along with 89 other Airman representing the 388 MXG. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) participants included 4 squadrons flying F-16s, Mirage IIIs, Mirage Vs, and F-7s (MiG-21s). While USAF personnel engaged with PAF personnel on all levels throughout the exercise, our primary interaction was with maintainers from the 11th Arrows Squadron with whom we shared a maintenance facility. Coincidentally, they also flew F-16s which would prove important as Ill explain later.
The planning for this exercise was extensive. At around the 120-day mark our Operations and Maintenance project officers along with our Logistics Planners began coordinating with AFCENT planners on the exercise specifics. Since we would be operating from a bare base we conducted two site surveys. Typically when we go TDY for exercises such as Red Flag or Green Flag we can obtain some degree of support from the host unit in the form of support equipment or tools. This exercise however was much different. We had to plan for the worst in terms of bringing the equipment and spare parts necessary to sustain our aircraft for the duration of the exercise. This meant thinking of how we would handle every possible scenario both enroute and at the exercise location.
Enroute to Pakistan, we traveled through Lajes Field, Portugal and Sigonella NAS, Italy. As with most major aircraft movements, we built an ESTA (Expeditionary Site Transition Assistance) team consisting of a mix of maintenance specialists capable of fixing any aircraft discrepancies we may experience along the way. The transit went smoothly, and we even had the chance to see Sicily for a day. As soon as we hit the ground at Shahbaz AB, we were met by our ADVON (Advanced Echelon) team lead and Maintenance NCOIC, SMSgt Robert Block. He and his five-person team arrived four days prior and worked tirelessly setting up the flight line area and Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HASs) from which we would operate. With all aircraft and people in-place, it was time to start the exercise.
Regardless of the level of planning there will inevitably be challenges to overcome. This was the case on day 1 of flying. We planned to fly 2 gos for a total of 8 sorties per day with a 2.5-3 hour turn time between the 1st and 2nd go. Upon receipt of the flying schedule our Production Supervisor pointed out that we only had a 30 minute turn time. Upon speaking with my PAF Maintenance Officer counterpart from the 11th Arrows Squadron, we learned the PAF typically performs quick turn inspections whereas we do thru-flight inspections. Quick turns are an abbreviated version of thru-flights and do not take nearly as long to perform. In the end, we were able to negotiate a 1.5 hour turn time which was less than we planned for but considering the configuration we were flying was executable.
Another challenge was shipping parts to Shahbaz AB. Leading up to the exercise the big question was how long it would take to get something through customs in Pakistan. Well, we found out after the first few days of flying when a canopy actuator failed on one of our jets. At the time, canopy actuators were hard to get at home station so our only option was to CANN the part from an aircraft at Hill AFB and ship it commercially. Fortunately for us this happened early in the exercise giving us an opportunity to test the process. In the meantime, we had an NMC aircraft and only 5 FMC aircraft to support the flying schedule. The obvious question was did the maintainers from the 11th Arrows squadron bring a canopy actuator we could borrow until ours arrived? We have Block 40 F-16s; they fly Block 15s. After confirming with our Egress technicians that the actuators were interchangeable, I again approached my PAF counterpart to ask if they had one we could borrow. To our surprise they did and were willing to let us borrow it. We installed the PAFs actuator and were able to fix our aircraft. The actuator sent from home station arrived 6 days later and we returned the PAFs borrowed actuator. These are just two examples of how we were able to overcome challenges during the exercise by working closely with our PAF allies fulfilling the objectives of ensuring interoperability of forces and enhancing joint capability. (Pic 1)
The PAF maintenance personnel were motivated to engage our maintainers. Almost all spoke English clearly so language was not a barrier. They came armed and ready with both professional and personal questions. Typical conversations began with a work related question but would eventually diverge to more casual topics. They were very interested in how USAF personnel viewed them. I specifically recall an encounter with a PAF gentleman who was the equivalent of our Flight line Production Supervisor. I was in the 11th Arrows Squadron Maintenance Officers office one morning before the first go of the day when he walked in. He greeted me warmly and asked what I thought thus far about the people of Pakistan. I replied by saying that I found the Pakistanis Ive met to be very pleasant people. When I said that his face lit up and he smiled from ear-to-ear. He replied by saying that he wished people would not judge the people of Pakistan by what they see on TV.
The PAF was also eager to share their heritage. Following the first week of flying, we had the opportunity to experience local Pakistani culture when the PAF held their annual Basant Festival. The Basant Festival is a traditional event ushering in springtime. During the festival there was a parade in which each squadron built what is equivalent to a float, and entered the parade to the sound of local Pakistani music. We also participated in a tradition known as kite fighting and enjoyed customary Pakistani food. The festival gave us an opportunity to interact with PAF personnel in a more social setting. From a maintenance perspective the exercise was a resounding success. We were able to support all scheduled sorties with a 95.9% FMC rate operating from a bare base environment while working alongside a key GWOT ally. In the end, we learned valuable lessons both personally and professionally about our PAF allies which will undoubtedly strengthen our relationship with Pakistan.
About the Author: 1Lt Kevin Manis is the 34 AMU Assistant OIC for the 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah
