A contingent of 10 F-16s and 108 airmen from the 62nd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Ariz., is operating out of Langley AFB, Va., for several weeks to provide Langley’s F-22s with mock adversaries in training drills. “We are here to provide realistic adversary capabilities and tactics for F-22 training,” said Capt. Luke Kippert, one of the visiting pilots. The F-16s will also team with the F-22s in some drills to practice combined force tactics, he said. The visit marks the Luke airmen’s first visit to Langley, but they’ve flown with F-22s before at other places. Kippert said the F-16 fliers realize that the F-22s outclass their aircraft, but they still play an important role in providing the F-22 pilots with realistic training. In March, T-38s from Holloman AFB, N.M., visited Langley to fly against the F-22s. (Langley report by A1C Jason J. Brown)
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.