Photo By Senior Airman Darion Boyd | A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet sits on display before a flight...... read more read more
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AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — The 119th Fighter Squadron, assigned to the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy for Operation Pegasus Dawn, hosted by the 31st Fighter Wing, from Oct. 18 through Oct. 25, 2024. Pegasus Dawn is an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training mission designed to support the 108th Wing transition from the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft to the newer KC-46 Pegasus model.
ACE is a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power. This strategy is executed by complicating the enemy’s targeting process, creating political and operational dilemmas for the enemy, and creating flexibility for friendly forces.
“The 119th is very familiar with ACE,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Long, 119th Fighter Squadron commander. “During our recent combat deployment, we executed an unplanned ACE mission on short notice. It showed me that we can operate from the smallest footprint possible for a finite period.”
The purpose of Pegasus Dawn was to support the 108th WG as their teams gained valuable experience with three KC-46 refuelers deployed to Air Force European Command, while integrating them into their preexisting systems and areas of responsibility.
The 119th FS pilots conducted daily flight missions, providing relevant ACE experience for the new tankers.
“Primarily, we are their receivers to ensure the basic systems to conduct aerial refueling are operational,” said Mann. “We received fuel from them on the trans-Atlantic flight and we are conducting aerial refueling with them each day of this deployment. We are executing a mixture of Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) missions with the 108th Wing and additional F-16s from the 555th Fighter Squadron.”
The 177th Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) took this opportunity to further sharpen their ACE capabilities as well.
“To sustain combat operations, we absolutely need the maintenance and support teams,” said Long. “During Pegasus Dawn, we’re looking at an ACE mission from a slightly different approach – bringing our maintenance and support teams with the mentality of a minimalist both in personnel numbers and equipment.”
The 177th AMXS, while servicing the F-16 fighter jets and further supporting the mission, has also seen significant ACE success.
“Some of our major achievements have been our Airmen performing maintenance activities outside of their typical Air Force Specialty Code,” said Lt. Col. Jessica Lewis, 177th AMXS commander. “We had structural shop Airmen assisting with replacing liquid oxygen and marshaling jets; we had engine shop Airmen assisting with tire changes. We are all one team and we work better together.”
Lewis emphasizes how the ACE concept plays a role on her teams.
“ACE is a smaller footprint contingency,” said Lewis. “Performing aircraft maintenance with a smaller footprint increases our stealth and flexibility for the fight to come.”
By utilizing ACE techniques, air units can accomplish more with less resources.
“This week’s partnership proves that the flying units of the NJANG can operate almost autonomously,” said Mann. “It shows that our state and its Airmen can organically deploy personnel, equipment, and airpower around the world with little to no outside support.”
The 177th Fighter Wing and the 119th Fighter Squadron hope to conduct ACE exercise missions in the future, developing them into effective and sustainable readiness practices.
“ACE is truly a mindset, and I am incredibly proud of what the Jersey Devil teams have done at Aviano,” said Long. “We're thinking outside the container and it's been awesome to watch everyone deliver Devil Dominance!”
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2024 15:18 |
| Story ID: | 484492 |
| Location: | AVIANO AIR BASE, IT |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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