KADENA AIR BASE OKINAWA, Japan -- Pilots of Strike Fighter Squadron 94 Mighty Shrikes sent off practice ordnance for training here Aug. 24 as part of Habu Fire II.
Habu Fire II is a jointtraining exercise where VFA-94, Marine All- Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 and 18th Fighter Wing work together performing and improving efficiency in close-air support, airto- air and ground-to-air operations.
Training with practice ordnance allows pilots to become more proficient at close-air-support missions, said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Lanane, VFA-94 maintenance officer.
During training exercises, pilots train with both live and practice ordnance.
“The practice bombs or laser-guided training rounds are a much more cost-effective way of getting adequate training for both pilots and ordnance,” said Lanane.
The flights scheduled for ordnance training are not only good for the pilots who fire off the bombs, but they also benefit the ordnance personnel by providing more training loading them.
“These flights are good for practicing efficiency in loading, arming and delivery,” said Master Chief John R. Dunlap, VFA-94 maintenance master chief.
Throughout the deployment, the Mighty Shrikes have increased the number of flight hours, number of aircraft launched and the number of working hours for all personnel.
“I have been extremely impressed with the ability of the crew to brief, debrief and employ the systems,” said Dunlap.
Both the air crew and ground crew have been working from early mornings to late evenings to ensure the mission is an overall success.
“We ensure all gear is ready when needed, we prep the aircraft for loading, load the aircraft, put power to the aircraft to ensure the ordnance works correctly,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Mendoza, VFA-94 aviation ordnance.
Without the ordnance personnel the pilots would be unable to execute their missions for this deployment.
The training is much more challenging here, said Mendoza. The distance between shops and the pads, the area where the aircraft are launched from, make the planning a little more complicated, Mendoza added.
With more training going on every day, ground personnel and pilots are able to improve or add more information to their day-today abilities.