Photo By Tech. Sgt. Leilani Peltz | Tech. Sgt. Shane Mastello, a F-35 core cadre assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, poses...... read more read more
Subscribe
NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, Fla. – Thirteen Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing earned the opportunity to receive either a familiarization or an incentive ride during Exercise Ready Eagle 25-01 at NAS Key West, February and March 2025.
These flights provided Airmen a chance to experience what could be a once-in-a-lifetime ride while simultaneously recognizing their achievements. While incentive and familiarization flights can occur in a variety of aircraft, personnel for both flew in a two-seater F-15D Eagle. Flights in the Eagle were particularly special to unit members, as this was the final TDY with the fighter jets before the conversion to the F -35A Lightning IIs in 2026.
Familiarization and incentive flights allow service members to be part of a specific training mission. Multiple members are involved to successfully complete rides, requiring communication between the pilots in the air and crews on the ground.
Capt. Joshua Carollo, a 104th Fighter Wing chaplain at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass., was one of the Airmen who received an incentive flight after winning the wing’s Company Grade Officer of the Year award for 2024.
Chaplain Carollo said he was excited for the chance to be in the air with Lt. Col. Matt ‘Beast’ Tanis, a 104th Fighter Wing pilot.
“The opportunity to fly in the F-15 Eagle and see the beautiful dance between pilot and machine was amazing,” Carollo said. “I have a greater appreciation for both their role at the tip of the spear, as well as my own role supporting their mission.”
The flight lasted around an hour-and-a-half, involved a few mission fights, and showcased the aircraft’s high rates of speed.
“Beast said we pulled eight-plus Gs at least four times,” Carollo said of his flight experience. “I was ready for the two dog fights, but when we started on the third, that was rough.”
Senior Airman Logan St. Clair, a 104th Fighter Wing cyber network infrastructure technician at Barnes, was another Airman who had the opportunity for an incentive flight. He won the wing’s Airman of the Year award for 2023.
Col. David ‘Moon’ Halasikun, the 104th Fighter Wing commander, was the pilot for St. Clair’s flight.
Prior to finding out who was flying the F-15D, St. Clair was anxious.
“I hadn’t heard about who my pilot was going to be, and all of the nerves were catching up,” St. Clair said. “When I learned Col. Moon was taking me up, most of my fears went away.”
St. Clair said his experience in the F-15 made him think of his grandfather, Colonel (retired) Robert St. Clair, who had been an A-10 Warthog pilot at Barnes.
“Going up was emotional for me,” St. Clair said. “I enlisted shortly after my grandfather passed away, so it was cool to feel the same feeling he probably had all the time.”
Being in the air provided St. Clair with a different viewpoint outside of his typical job.
“It showed me from a military perspective what the Communications Squadron and I are working to support,” St. Clair said. “As a cyber person, we don’t necessarily have the chance to interact with the pilots or know too much about the missions they go on, so I think it was great to see what they’re doing on a day-to-day basis.”
All individuals were acknowledged for their leadership, hard work and dedication within their respective shops. Each of the flights served as recognition of their contributions to the wing’s mission and a morale boost for the unit, including to those who watched their fellow Airmen on the flights.
The other 11 Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing who received incentive and familiarization flights for their overall performance were Tech. Sgt. Brett Bamford, an electrical and environmental technician; Senior Airman Alex Becker, an avionics technician; Tech. Sgt. Matt Blanchette, a crew chief; Tech. Sgt. Zane Collier, a heavy mobile equipment mechanic; Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Furusho, a weapons load crew chief; Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Hart, a firefighter; Master Sgt. Mike Hoar, a conventional munitions noncommissioned officer in charge; Tech. Sgt. Shane Mastello, an F-35 core cadre; Staff Sgt. Julia Pereira, a personnelist; Master Sgt. Juan Rodriguez, a security forces squad lead; and Staff Sgt. Milena Zuffelato, an aerospace medical technician.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2025 16:12 |
| Story ID: | 493473 |
| Location: | KEY WEST, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 104th Fighter Wing airmen take to the sky in familiarization and incentive rides during Exercise Ready Eagle 25-01, by TSgt Leilani Peltz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
