Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Littlejohn | Air Force pilots flying A-10C Thunderbolt II fire bullets, drop training ammunition...... read more read more
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The thundering roars of engines raced across the clouds. Booms of artillery fire growled in the distance. Finally, the wind rushed past as an A-10C Thunderbolt II spewed a mass of bullets at a deserted village, and annihilated everything in its path.
These were the sounds and images of Hustler Trough II, a joint training exercise combining the expertise of Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Armored Division here, and pilots from the 66th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The exercise was designed to improve 1st Armored Division’s ability to synchronize and integrate all fires on the battlefield, Nov. 2-6.
Participants trained Nov. 3 at Centennial Range, a target complex used by the U.S. Air Force for air-to-ground training. The Fort Bliss training range offers a realistic layout of simulated tactical targets similar to those that might be encountered on an actual battlefield.
Air Force Senior Airman Burton A. Ferguson, a joint terminal attack controller assigned to the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron here, said this year’s Hustler Trough will help the Army and the Air Force learn to work together if there is ever a major combat operation.
“This is an annual exercise that we do to help integrate ourselves with the Army so that we have familiarization among each other,” said Ferguson. “So when it comes time to go downrange, there is that bond, and they can trust us a little bit more.”
It’s rare the A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft visit Fort Bliss, so any opportunity that the Soldiers and Airmen have to work with the pilots from Nellis AFB is a great one.
“We take these opportunities whenever we can,” said Army 1st Lt. Tim T. Tsai, a fire support officer assigned to Battery C., 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 1 Armored Division Artillery. “It’s lots of fun and it’s great to be out here.”
Army Pfc. Bradley L. Thigpin, a fires support specialist assigned to Battery C., 2nd Bn., 3rd FAR, is brand new to the Army with a little over a year of service, and said he was excited to learn his job and see the A-10s soaring high. As a forward observer, his job is to direct the action of the combat aircraft engaged in close air support.
“I’ve learned how to talk to the aircraft and target their shots,” said Thigpin. “Being here today can only make me better. I’m just happy to get this experience.”
The day came to an end with two A-10s flying low over the heads of the forward observers to display what is known as a show of force. A show of force is a maneuver intended to warn or intimidate an opponent by flying as low as possible above the enemy.
As the Soldiers and Airmen stood around with their cell phones in hand, the A-10s whisked by right above their heads. It was the perfect ending to a successful day of training.
| Date Taken: | 11.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2015 16:25 |
| Story ID: | 181626 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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