RANDOLPH AIR fORCE BASE, Texas –
For the first time on Randolph Air Force Base, the 435th Fighter Training Squadron is teaching future A-10 pilots the basics of surface attack tactics.
During a new piece of the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Course, new A-10 pilots are learning the basics of engaging ground-based enemies.
"Now that close air support has become critically important to the war fighter, being asked to introduce those fundamentals earlier in a student-pilot's training is quite an honor," said Lt. Col. Bruce Smith, 435th FTS commander. "I'm proud that we have accomplished the task."
Lt. Col. Roger Suro, a full-time reservist instructor pilot attached to the 435th FTS, said the idea of teaching surface attack tactics here came about while he was attending a conference of IFF squadrons. He and fellow 435th instructor pilot Major Bryan Wieland, a full-time reservist and former A-10 instructor at Davis-Monthan AFB, embarked upon figuring out how to teach the course realistically without incurring extra costs.
Major Wieland undertook most of the work in building the syllabus for the two introductory surface attack tactics flights and briefings.
"Academics for the two sorties, plus phase and flight briefs, had to be built," Major Wieland said. "I knew exactly what the combat Air Force wanted new A-10 pilots to know when they show up for training at the formal training unit."
Major Wieland got to work on the paperwork aspects and then used his knowledge of A-10 surface attacks fundamentals, tactics and procedures to collaborate with instructor pilots in the 435th FTS who have T-38C Talon flight experience. Colonel Suro and Majors Pat Boland, Tim Mangan and Roger Snow, who are knowledgeable of the T-38C Talon and it's enhanced heads-up display , provided input on how the two sorties would be flown in the T-38C. Major Wieland flew with each of the pilots, practicing what he would teach a new A-10 pilot. In doing so, he found what worked and what didn't.
"The test for figuring out what we wanted a student to know was, 'Is it teachable? Is it repeatable by the student? Is it credible?'" Major Wieland said.
After two months, Major Wieland had built PowerPoint presentations and flown all of the test sorties to see what techniques would be realistic to introduce to a fledgling A-10 pilot. The major added fighter-to-fighter terminology, the tenets of mutual support and an introduction to the theater air control system and simulated weapons delivery from low and medium altitudes to the syllabus.
Capt. Tim Grebs, a student who Colonel Suro and Major Wieland tested in the two surface attack tactics sorties and who has since progressed to the A-10 formal training unit at Davis-Monthan, said his first mission was saturated with challenges.
"As the wingman," he added, "I was constantly charged with maintaining situational awareness of the target area and simulated threats, executing 100 percent accurate weapons delivery parameters and providing de-confliction, maintaining formation position and offering mutual support."
Captain Grebs added every aspect of both sorties -- from the mission brief to the mission execution -- challenged his abilities as a pilot. He said it was some of the most intense flying he's experienced to date.
Major Wieland said the captain performed well, especially on the medium altitude sortie. And Captain Grebs said as he progresses into his A-10 training, he wholeheartedly supports the introduction of "the SAT rides" into the IFF syllabus.
"The basic fundamentals I learned during those two rides provided a sound foundation for the expectations of an attack pilot," Captain Grebs said. "I am indebted to Major Wieland, Colonel Suro and Major Snow for their invaluable instruction and for pushing me to attain the high standards of their A-10 brethren. Hopefully, I'll put that knowledge and experience to good use here in the future."