Sentry Down Under Wrap-Up

WILLIAMTOWN, NS, AUSTRALIA

03.15.2011

Story by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Kinnan 

132d Wing, Iowa Air National Guard

The Iowa National Guard's 132nd Fighter Wing, based at Des Moines, Iowa, and the 185th Air Refueling Wing, out of Sioux City, Iowa have returned from the "Land Down Under" after completing "Sentry Down Under" Approximately 125 personnel, eight F-16 aircraft, 88 short tons of equipment transported by C-5, C-17, and KC-135 aircraft from the 185th providing refueling support for the trip and exercise traveled over 15,000 miles round trip to Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia.

After months of planning, 125 members of the 132nd Fighter Wing, aircraft, spare parts, equipment, completed air combat operations in the "Land Down Under". Sentry Down Under is a semi-annual exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force Fighter Weapons School and a fighter unit selected by the National Guard Bureau.

The Iowa National Guard's 132nd Fighter Wing, Des Moines, Iowa and the 185th Air Refueling Wing out of Sioux City, Iowa, were selected to provide a unique Iowa flavor to the semi-annual event held at RAAF Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia. The 132nd Fighter Wings F-16C's participated in Dissimilar Air Combat Training against RAAF F-18's. This is the first time that the 132nd has joined with our partners in the war against terror on their "Home Court."

"We are flying BFM Basic Fighter Maneuvers with the flight instructors and the students. They have had their eyes opened with what the F-16 can do," said Lt Col Todd Sheridian, Director of Operations for the 132nd Fighter Wing. Sheridian, also a pilot with the 132nd, added, "We are here to train with an international partner and strengthen that international partnership."

Both the 185th and the 132nd deploy regularly in support of the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Expeditionary Force in direct support of ongoing contingencies like Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The "Sentry Down Under" exercise provides the Air Force and the RAAF an opportunity to gain an understanding of how to shoot, move, and communicate in a less austere environment.

This exercise pits the 132nd's F-16 fighter aircraft against the RAAF's F-18 Hornets, which gives pilots from both Air Forces an opportunity to adapt to new fighting styles.

"He is trying to get in a knife fight," Col. Sheridian laughed while describing the fighting style of the F-18 pilot. With a limited angle of attack, F-18 pilots often attempt to entice F-16 pilots to go at a slower pace. With this style, F-18 pilots are able to exploit their capabilities against the smaller and quicker F-16. Sheridian compared this style to the Russian made MIG-29. "When you let a Hornet get slow and you get slow with them, you lose the fight."

Col Drew "Toto" DeHaes, commander, 132nd Fighter Wing commented that “We are out supporting their training, that’s significant but I think you can take it further, I think the biggest thing we will gain out of this deployment is the friendships and the relationships that we build here in peacetime. That when we do go with them to a future conflict, that we will know the people that we are flying with. We have gone to war with these folks for a number of years and it's nice to have their friendship and allow us to be over here and see it firsthand”

The 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa, provided refueling support for the trip "Down Under" and continued their mission by providing refueling support for Sentry Down Under aircraft, followed by the return home with the F-16"s.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2011
• Date Posted: 03.16.2011 12:20
• Story ID: 67176
• Location: WILLIAMTOWN, NS, AU