Wolf Pack, Green Knights take the fight to flight

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Rasheen A. Douglas
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Wolf Pack Airmen are accustomed to the roar of an F-16 Fighting Falcon, but they recently heard a different sound coming from the flight line.

U.S. Marine Corps pilots from the Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, known as the Green Knights, flew their F/A-18D Hornets to Kunsan Air Base in order to participate in a weeklong dissimilar aircraft combat training with pilots here from the 35th Fighter Squadron.

The unit is currently deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, and has participated in several exercises throughout the Pacific region.

According to the fighter pilots, this type of training is essential because air combat skills are perishable and even the best pilots need a refresher courses to ensure they are ready to fight if called upon.

"The benefit of training with the F-16 is we get to see how the aircraft performs," said Marine Corps Maj. David Adamiec, VMFA(AW)-121 pilot. "Every jet has specific performance characteristics. Flying against the F-16s helps us prepare for any type of adversary."

The major went on to say these exercises are especially helpful for junior aircrew.

"Instead of consistently facing the same jet with the same performance characteristics as you, they face a new jet that tests their abilities," said Adamiec.

In addition to Kunsan's F-16s, they have conducted DACT training with F-15C Eagles at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and F-22 Raptors at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

"We gain valuable knowledge from our air-to-air training fights," said Marine Corps Maj. Craig Connelly, VMFA(AW)-121 pilot. "We also get to have fun testing our flying skills with our Air Force counterparts."

In order to effectively accomplish missions, pilots must regularly train for air combat. The DACT exercises are one of the many tools fighter pilots use to be ready in an environment where one decision may be the difference between success and failure.