ROYAL AIR FORCE LEEMING, England - Under grey skies and relentless wind, rain, and sleet, 10 Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing demonstrated the wing’s readiness to operate in austere conditions during multinational Exercise Point Blank 26.
During the exercise, Airmen from the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Generation Squadrons integrated with RAF air traffic control, fuel, fire, safety, and airfield management personnel to conduct hot-pit refueling operations, reducing aircraft ground time while increasing mission readiness.
Central to the exercise was the mission capability crew concept, which brought together Airmen from multiple career fields - including avionics, weapons, and tactical aircraft maintenance - and trains them to perform critical tasks outside their primary specialties.
“We are able to cross train individuals to do tasks outside of their career field so we have a broader scope of abilities,” said Staff Sgt. Evan Schneider, 493rd FGS dedicated crew chief. “It allows us to take individuals from other units and career fields, place them in an austere location, and know they are able to perform that task with proficiency and accuracy.”
Additionally, the exercise focused on improving the overall performance of hot-pit refueling operations, which enable aircraft to land, refuel and take off in a matter of minutes, all without turning off the engines.
Even as a mission-essential task, not every flightline career field focuses on refueling operations. Recognizing a gap between observation and action, Point Blank provided an opportunity for hands-on learning.
“As far as fueling goes, I always see [refuelers] doing it but have never been up close,” said Airman Steven Del Rio, 493rd FGS weapons aircraft armament systems. “If you’re not trained on a certain task, you’re just ‘there’ until it’s time to perform your duties, so being put in a position where you can help is very beneficial to the mission overall.”
The MCC team was able to increase overall efficiency in their hot-pit operations by 60%, allowing the wing to maximize its Agile Combat Employment capabilities across the European theater.
“We faced a few challenges, but we were ultimately able to overcome them,” said Master Sgt. Joshua Eades, 493rd FGS production superintendent. “Overall, this team performed outstandingly. I’m very proud, not only to be a part of this team, but to be a part of the Air Force completing this mission.”
Point Blank 26 underscored the 48th Fighter Wing’s commitment to operating alongside partner nations in dynamic and austere environments.