LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
If members of the 71st Fighter Squadron are “stepping up to the plate,” like the squadron’s director off operations said about the current deployment, then they are consistently hitting home runs according to their mission record.
“We have had a great start to a challenging deployment,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Holdaway. “It has been an easy transition for the squadron’s leadership because of the outstanding work put in by all the 71st FS members. So far we have generated all the sorties we have set out for.”
The 71st FS deployed to Savannah, Ga., May 26 for the 60-day runway closure here. During the closure, more than 100,000 tons of runway will be ripped from the Langley airfield, to include parts of the main runway, Taxiway Alpha and the East and West Ramps.
Most exercises are only a few weeks, and most deployments are six to 12 months, so this 60-day deployment falls right into the middle.
“Our personnel need to be prepared for a longer period of time,” said Colonel Holdaway, “but, mentally, they don’t have to make that leap into preparing themselves for a combat zone.
However, squadron members continue to train and ready themselves for combat deployments because even though they are away from their home base, their mission has not changed.
“We are just flying in a different airspace and working at a different airfield,” said Colonel Holdaway. “We continue to train on a daily basis and we continue to be ready for combat deployments.”
While the mission has not changed, Colonel Holdaway said the change of scenery forces 71st FS personnel out of the habit patterns and gives them a new perspective.
“This is very important, especially for our young pilots who have only flown at Langley,” he said. “They have to learn to fly in a new airspace and maintain mission proficiency. It definitely helps them prepare for being deployed to combat.”
Maintenance member keep their feet on the ground, but the change of scenery is no less important to them. Changing their habits, storing supplies and tools in different places keeps them focused on the job at hand.
“Our maintainers are doing exceptional work here,” said Colonel Holdaway. “The change in logistics readies them to be deployed to a combat area.”
Before the deployment began, 1st Fighter Wing leaders were concerned that Airmen would try to drive home at every opportunity since Savannah is only nine to 10 hours by car. Personal motor vehicle accidents are the Air Force number one killer, according to the wing’s safety office. Leaders did not want Airmen getting off work on Friday evening and trying to make it home for the weekend.
The 71st policy is that anyone who wants to go home has to take leave for those days. Since they have to request leave from their supervisor, it allows the squadron to have total accountability for everyone.
According to Colonel Holdaway, it also helps that the entire unit is housed near the airfield.
“When you wake up in the morning, the jets are right there for maintenance and flying,” said Colonel Holdaway. “It really helps our unit cohesiveness that we are not scattered to the winds in hotels all around town.”
The 27th Fighter squadron deployed to Alaska for the Langley runway closure. Until all the flying squadrons return August 1, all is quiet in the Langley skies.