An F-35A Lightning II, assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, takes off. (U.S. Air Force photo by Anthony Pham)

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Key West deployment offers essential training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Greer
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT --  About 250 personnel from the 419th Fighter Wing recently traveled to Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., to take advantage of the mild weather conditions and a joint training environment.

A number of factors came into play when deciding to deploy to NAS Key West.

With snow and ice frequently on the runway throughout the winter here, wing pilots often need to find other training locations in order to maintain currency during winter months.

With a high of 76 degrees and a low of 66 degrees on average in February, traveling to Key West makes it easier for the wing's maintenance and operations personnel to accomplish ongoing training requirements.

This year marks the fourth year wing members have headed south to Key West for winter training. "[Key West] is a great training place," said Capt. George Lafiguera, 466th Aircraft Maintenance Unit OIC.

In addition to mild weather conditions, the location gives wing personnel the opportunity to train in a joint environment, he said. During the Key West deployment, 466th Fighter Squadron pilots flew against Air National Guard F-15s and Marine and Navy F-18s to hone their air-to-air combat, dissimilar asset combat tactics and air combat maneuvering skills.

"Because we are an air expeditionary force, we deal with the Army, Navy, and Marines. This [deployment] gives us a chance to understand their language," Capt. Lafiguera said.

Packing up and leaving en masse also allows wing members and units to simulate a real-world deployment, giving the personnel a chance to practice planning, preparing and executing many of the same things they would during an AEF rotation.

Trips like this one also help to build continuity within the wing as well.

Senior Airman Jeff Carnley, an avionics specialist in the 419th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, says it provides a chance for reservists to work together and get to know each other.

"It gets people who only see each other two days a month, to see and work with each other every day," he said.

(Kari Tilton, 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this article)