ANG and active-duty pilots train together at the 144th FW

Photo By Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Drudge | U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle fighter jets from California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing prepare to taxi out for the morning mission during Sentry Aloha 18-01 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Jan. 16, 2018. Sentry Aloha provides tailored, cost effective and realistic combat training for U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and other Department of Defense services to provide U.S. warfighters with the skill sets necessary to perform their homeland defense and overseas combat missions. (Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge)  

FRESNO, CA, UNITED STATES

08.31.2023

Story by Staff Sgt. Mercedes Taylor 

144th Fighter Wing

You know a pilot when you see one. They’re usually sporting their distinctive “Freedom Sage” flight suit with unique colorful patches on their sleeves and aviator-style sunglasses while they step to their assigned aircraft before a launch.
What you can’t tell, however, is their duty-status. Pilots assigned to 194th Fighter Squadron are either Guardsmen or active-duty Airmen due to a U.S. Air Force initiative known as Total Force Integration.
The goal of TFI is to integrate active, Reserve, and Guard components to meet various mission and national security requirements. The 194th FS is assigned active-duty pilots to provide additional F-15C Eagle manpower for the base’s air dominance mission, thus making the Fresno Air National Guard Base a prime example for how well the TFI concept works.
“The 194th FS has been receiving pilots for about five years,” said Lt. Col. Jon Vanbragt, 194th FS commander. “Integration between the Air National Guard and the active Air Force components helps both entities fight, train, and understand the capabilities of the [other] while maximizing training and combat utility.”
“This synergy is widely beneficial to both components and bolsters the broader capability of the United States military,” Vanbragt added.
Pilots experience a similar operations tempo here when compared to an active-duty base. They receive professional development opportunities, and their skillsets are fully utilized as either a flyer or to support the Wing with staff functions.
“We go through the regular leadership progressions,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Chandler Bishop, 144th Fighter Wing executive officer and active-duty pilot. “We could go to different positions such as the shop chief, project officers, flight commander, assistant director of operations, etcetera. We try to contribute to the Wing as much as possible.”
TFI pilots could also fill the role of instructor pilot, where they are tasked to provide more on-the-job flight training to new Guard and active-duty pilots following their graduation from the basic F-15C course.
“If a TFI pilot comes here as an instructor, they help get the newer pilots through upgrades, which in turn makes our squadron more lethal and proficient,” said Capt. CJ Taggett, 194th FS full-time Guard pilot. “They help us out by filling positions, and they bring us the active-duty side that we don’t see.”
Both active-duty and Guard pilots have a chance to gain new perspectives when working with one another. TFI, in this case, creates a positive symbiotic relationship that benefits both active and Guard personnel.
“TFI gives active-duty pilots great exposure to the Guard and how Guardsmen operate,” Bishop said. “[We get to see all the different days, dollars, and status involved with mobilizing a Guard unit]. As the Air Force continues to transfer F-15Cs to Guard units, it’ll become increasingly important for the active-duty personnel to integrate with Guardsmen, almost like a Joint-Force construct.”
Active-duty pilots will continue to train with Guard pilots as the Air Force prepares to replace the aging F-15C/Ds with new F-15EX aircraft. The F-15 variants are similar, so trained Eagle Drivers from both active duty and the Guard will be able to seamlessly and quickly transition between the aircraft.
In April of 2023, the Department of the Air Force announced that the Fresno ANGB was selected as a beddown location for the F-15EX. In the meantime, the 194th FS will continue to conduct missions and training sorties to ensure a smooth transition to a new aircraft while executing the base’s air dominance mission.

• Date Taken: 08.31.2023
• Date Posted: 09.19.2023 13:39
• Story ID: 452606
• Location: FRESNO, CA, US