Elmendorf Airmen complete first F-22 deployment

by Capt. Torri White, 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs



Eight F-22 Raptors and 132 Airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base completed the first deployment from Alaska as Reserve and active-duty Airmen combined for training Feb. 2 through 17 at Tyndall AFB, Fla.

Members of the 3rd Wing and Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group here combined for the deployment to for Combat Archer, a Weapons System Evaluation Program training program.

The Airmen worked side-by-side to accomplish the mission during Combat Archer, an assessment conducted to prepare and evaluate an operational fighter squadron's readiness for combat operations. The program evaluates all phases of combat operations from weapons loading to aircraft and aircrew performance.

It is unique to the Air Force and is the only test or evaluation program that uses operational aircrews, maintainers, aircraft and weapons.

"WSEP gives us the opportunity to employ air-to-air weapons in as close-to-combat environment as possible," said Maj. David Piffarerio, a 302nd Fighter Squadron pilot and project officer for Combat Archer. "Fourteen out of 16 of our missiles met WSEP hit criteria and passed within the lethal radius or hit the drone. The successful deployment of WSEP means the 3rd Wing is one step closer to initial operation capability."

This deployment gave F-22 pilots the opportunity to shoot a live missile at the combat banner, a target towed by a Learjet to evaluate live air-to-air gunnery. Additionally, maintainers and weapons specialists witnessed the capability of the aircraft.

"The main benefit for me was to see the missile system work. We usually load and unload and never see the jet come back empty," said Senior Airman Austin Shippy, a 477th Maintenance Squadron weapons specialist. "We now know these systems do what they say they do."

The deployment also gave reservists and active-duty members a chance to work in a deployed environment.

"I have to look at the patches to tell who is from the 477th Fighter Group and who is from the 3rd Wing," said Capt. Megan Rogers, the 3rd Wing deployed maintenance commander. "Everyone has the same mission, and everyone works hard to make sure it gets done. In years to come, the Reserve will bring experience to our mission. They will still be around even after a lot of us have rotated out and will be able to provide continuity to our mission here."

The fighter group was activated in October 2007. It is an associate unit responsible for recruiting, training, developing and retaining citizen Airmen to support 3rd Wing and expeditionary Air Force mission requirements.

They are functionally integrated with their active-duty Air Force partners in almost all mission areas to increase efficiency and overall combat capability while retaining Reserve administrative support and career enhancement.

Combat Archer marked the first time the 477th FG and 3rd WG deployed together and tested its combat capability.

"The successful completion of Combat Archer proves that the weapons system is ready and mature," said Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley, the 3rd Wing commander. "The Airmen -- both active-duty and Reserve -- are experienced, and the 3rd Wing, if called upon, would be able to deploy."

Air Force Reserve stands up first F-22 Raptor unit

by Master Sgt. Chance Babin, Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
Tech. Sgt. Paul Hennig unveils the newly painted 302nd Fighter Squadron tail markings Oct. 2 following the 477th Fighter Group activation ceremony at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The 477th FG, and its subsequent squadrons, are now the first and only Reserve F-22 Raptor unit in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Garrett Hothan)

10/5/2007 - ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Air Force Reserve officials activated the first F-22 Raptor unit, the 477th Fighter Group, in a ceremony here Oct. 2, giving the Reserve a valuable part of America's newest and most sophisticated weapons system.

"This is a most wonderful day for the AFRC because we have officially stood up our first F-22 associate squadron and its group," said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, the AFRC commander. "I'm really proud of this day. This will be something that our command will be proud of for 50, 60, 70 years I believe."

The day also honored the unit's fabled heritage, with the 477th FG and the 302nd Fighter Squadron both having Tuskegee Airmen lineage. Tuskegee Airmen were present to add to the momentous day.

"It's priceless, there's no other way to put it," General Bradley said. "This is their heritage; we're standing on their shoulders. We're very proud to have their name and heritage in our 477th FG and 302nd FS."

For Col. Eric Overturf, 477th FG commander, having the unit stood up means it's time to get to work.

"Now we can go from the planning phase to the execution phase. The first thing we're going to do is start flying airplanes, start fixing airplanes and make the mission happen," Colonel Overturf said.

One of the unit's top priorities is to continue attracting highly qualified candidates, unit officials said.

The 477th FG currently has approximately 35 people assigned. By the end of this fiscal year that number should be 163, with incremental rises the next four years bringing the groups total to 426 by fiscal 2012. Ultimately, the group is scheduled to have 160 Air Reserve technicians and 266 traditional reservists.

He is first going to focus his efforts on filling the almost 270 traditional reservists positions, Colonel Overturf said.

For the Tuskegee Airmen on hand, having this new unit with the Air Force's newest fighter is an honor, they said.

"The highlight of this is the continuation of our legacy we started in the '40s," said retired Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert Ashby. "To have our unit flying the newest most sophisticated aircraft in the world and adopt the unit here is truly outstanding."