Photo By Tech. Sgt. Micaiah Anthony | U.S. Air Force (USAF) 1st Lt. Kevin Martin, VAQ-134 EA-18 Growler pilot, stands in...... read more read more
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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – A small boy covers his ears as he watches in delight as F-16s roar overhead and paints a black, red and white streak across the sky as they perform close passes, loops and a variety of dazzling tricks. That day a spark was ignited in his heart. That spark cultivated into a dream, the dream became a goal and that goal became reality.
The young boy wanted to be a pilot, not just any pilot, a fighter pilot.
“Ever since I was a little kid and I saw the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds I knew I wanted to be a fighter pilot,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kevin Martin, Electronic Attack Squadron 134 (VAQ-134) EA-18 Growler pilot. “Flying is in my blood. My grandpa was a navigator in the C-141 [Starlifter] and I think that was an aspect that drew me to the Air Force.”
Most pilots, after graduating flight school, go on to various Air Force units across the globe; however, Martin was given a once-in-a-lifetime alternative route.
“I was offered a pretty unique opportunity after graduating [introduction to fighter fundamentals] training,” said Martin. “I was extremely stoked when I learned that I was picked up [to fly] Growlers.”
After IFF graduation, Martin moved to his first assignment with the U.S. Navy VAQ-134 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., where he became the very first U.S. Air Force pilot to fly the Navy's EA-18G Growler.
“The experience we're getting in this program is going to be invaluable to the Air Force,” said Martin. “Not only will this give us a first-hand understanding of flying Growlers in various theaters, but also provides the opportunity to gain insight on how the Navy flies, communicates and operates in different situations. I’m trying to soak up everything I can and bring it back to the Air Force.”
Martin, along with two Air Force weapons systems officers, were initially assigned to the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron, however, they became imbedded with VAQ-134.
“[Martin] is the first of his kind, he’s part of a test program. Most of the 390th aircrew join already having some experience from another platform,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christian Nesset, VAQ-134 commander. “He’s a fantastic addition to the ready room.”
Martin, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alain Martinez, VAQ-134 EA-18 Growler electronic warfare officer, flew with their Navy counterparts from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to participate in exercise Northern Edge 2019 (NE19).
“I've never done a large force exercise that included jets flying out of two different bases and also a carrier,” Martin added. “The amount of coordination that is required to mission plan between all three is amazing.”
Northern Edge is designed to sharpen participants’ tactical combat skills, to improve command, control and communication relationships and to develop plans and programs across the joint force. More than 25 units and 10,000 service members with approximately 200 aircraft and five naval ships participated in the exercise.
“The 21st century fight in terms of air dominance for the Department of Defense and the U.S. is not going to be a single platform or single service fight,” said Nesset. “I can’t do everything in my Growler. It takes leveraging another service’s strengths to achieve the overall outcome of a mission. That is what joint interoperability is all about.”
The Growlers support NE19 by conducting electronic warfare via the electromagnetic spectrum to attack or impede enemy, or “Red”, forces while ensuring friendly, or “Blue”, forces have unimpeded access to the EMS.
“The EA-18G Growler does tactical electronic warfare, it’s the only platform in the DoD of its kind,” said Nesset. “It has the capability to detect emitters from various sources, geolocate them and provide non-kinetic effects in the form of jamming in support of various types of protection as well as provide kinetic suppression. Since we are a tactical platform we can operate further forward with our sister services fighters to bring a formidable strike packages anywhere.”
The 200 aircraft participating in NE19 have access to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), which is one of the largest training ranges in the world with approximately 65,000 square miles of available airspace.
“We have a large airspace back home but nothing like the JPARC,” said Martin. “There is a lot of space geographically and there are so many jets in the air. Coordinating missions with all the different airframes gives us familiarity with communicating with each other on the ground and in the air. All of us are ready to handle business.”
Along with the many lessons learned from flying the Growler, Martin and the hundreds of other aircrew members participating in NE19 will have a lot to take back and continue to ensure our forces are ready to respond to crises, anywhere and anytime.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.31.2019 21:34 |
| Story ID: | 324027 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,262 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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