COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE MISS. -- What do you get when you mix a multi-level major command exercise with ground, air support, professional development and Team 14? You get Exercise Black Knight.
With the arrival of the OA-1K formally known as the AT-802U (Sky Warden) at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Exercise Black Knight was ignited to bring together multiple major mission capabilities for hands-on training and advancements in tactical aviation.
“When our instructors leave the CAF (Combat Air Force) and come to AETC (Air Education Training Command) here with us, they are no longer operationally relevant in their fighter pilot capacity, so Exercise Black Knight is going back out to learn some of the integration and new tactics that have advanced since we’ve been out,” said Lt. Col. Rich Martin 49th Fighter Training Squadron commander. “We continue to provide accurate and current training for our wingmen, so they remain tactically relevant.”
The goal of the multi-day exercise was to develop fighter wingmen and to provide a visual of real-life missions and the people involved.
“It’s not just you and your fighter out there, you’re out there with other people in the air space.” said Capt. Luke Townsen 49th Fighter Training Squadron instructor pilot. “Some instructor pilots have never integrated with AC-130s, and some have, it’s just been a while so we’re going down to re-hack how we do our job efficiently and effectively.”
Keeping the evolving syllabus for the 49th relevant with intentional examples for the Instructor Pilots is vital for advancing tactical proficiency which is the 49th Black Knight’s vision.
“Our mission is to develop elite fighter wingmen that’s what we’re doing and to accomplish that we need to be tactically relevant ourselves, “said Martin. “As professional aviators it is our duty to maintain and develop those currencies and tactics which is exactly what we’re doing to execute the mission of developing elite fighter wingmen.”
The AC-130U and the OA-1K primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The key to successful missions is coordination between the sky and the ground which is exactly what was accomplished between the MAJCOMs during Exercise Black Knight.
“It was amazing to see the capabilities of the AC-130, their sensors were beyond what I was expecting,” said Lt. Col. Rex Calilung, 49th Training Squadron instructor pilot. “Since we are limited by our small aircraft it is comforting to know that there are other assets out there that can have more fidelity on the ground, it was really a reassurance that they’ve got our backs, and we’ve got theirs.”
Joint Terminal Attack Controller, a Special Forces operational department, was able to give the Black Knights insight on their training and weapons as well as a perspective on their view from the ground.
“Seeing all the capabilities from the AC-130 when you are protecting the guys on the ground, the more options for keeping them safe and protecting them is extremely helpful, "said Calilung. “It was also good to see in-person the people we are protecting on the ground, the integration there was very awesome and getting to witness all their training and simulations and weapons was absolutely crazy.”
The trip ended with an opportunity for several of the first assignment instructor pilots receiving a walk-through of the F-35s, a potential aircraft they can fly after their time at CAFB.
“We did this trip intentionally as a professional development TDY (temporary duty travel) and I think we accomplished even more than that,” said Martin. “Everyone involved went beyond my expectations and I’m excited to do this again in the future.”