The Hawaii Air National Guard’s 199th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam has completed its final F-15 training mission. The unit is transitioning to F-22s, the first two of which arrived in July. “It’s like saying goodbye to a good friend,” said Lt. Col. James Sage, a 199th FS pilot who last week flew in the final training mission. He added, “It was exciting flying it for the last time, and especially against an F-22, but at the same time, the F-15 has always brought me home safely and [it has] been an outstanding aircraft.” The ANG unit will operate 20 Raptors. “The 199th [FS] proves that National Guard forces are capable of maintaining a strategic presence with its active duty association and providing a great value to our nation,” said Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard Bureau chief. (Pearl Harbor-Hickam report by TSgt. Cohen A. Young)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.