[PAO] CAP simulates threats, assists RF-A pilots

[Steven Solomon]

Another USAF story about CAP!

http://www.eielson.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123360523


Regards,
Steven


STEVEN SOLOMON, Maj, CAP
National Public Affairs Officer
Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
105 South Hansell St.
Building 714
Maxwell AFB AL 36112-5937

*

[image: CAP Prop Logo 2012 small]

... Citizens Serving Communities
*





CAP simulates threats, assists RF-A pilots

by Senior Airman Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

8/21/2013 - *EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska* -- During RED FLAG-Alaska,
fighter aircraft dominate the skies. Participating forces identify hostile
targets while waging a simulated war - but not all hostiles are fighters.

Eielson's own Civil Air Patrol 71st Composite Squadron plays a role during
RF-A by simulating Antonov An-2 Colts, primarily using a deHavilland Canada
DHC-2 Beaver aircraft. Their presence gives fighter pilots the opportunity
to train in visually identifying low-flying, special operations
forces-carrying aircraft.

Steve Brewer, 71st CS commander, said CAP's participation allows pilots to
incorporate the defensive counter-air function of detection, identification
and interception of enemy aircraft into the training scenario.

"The training that fighter pilots get by visually identifying their targets
has been proven over history to be important in positively identifying
targets," he said. "RED FLAG is one of the few venues that allow pilots to
train for this mission type."

Brewer, a former Air Force fighter pilot, said the emphasis of the training
mission is not solely on CAP's aircraft because RF-A pilots are defending
against multiple targets. However, identifying and stopping low-flying
threats are objectives that RF-A participants train for.

"While we don't react to pilots because we aren't out there to fight, CAP
is still a training aid for RED FLAG participants during the exercise,"
Brewer said. "We're out there to help them learn and overcome obstacles
they're faced with."

Including CAP into RF-A has provided participants with an extra level of
challenges they might not have back at their home station, said Maj. Bryan
McGuire, 18th Aggressor Squadron mission commander.

"Through RED FLAG-Alaska, the 354th Fighter Wing can prepare aircrew to
fight in relatively unrestricted air space," McGuire said. "Including CAP
in the scenario forces fighters to defend a lane in three dimensions, and
it teaches them to successfully sanitize a much larger volume of space."

In terms of realistic threat scenarios, low-flying, slow-moving aircraft is
one that aircrew must prepare for, McGuire added. In this way, CAP delivers
a means to do so.

CAP's integration with RF-A has proven over the years to be invaluable by
providing a cost-effective training method, allowing the Air Force and its
partners to receive unparalleled air combat experiences.
*


*

**
**

**
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sempervigilans.org/pipermail/cap-pao/attachments/20130822/3a956201/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1370 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.sempervigilans.org/pipermail/cap-pao/attachments/20130822/3a956201/attachment.jpg>