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Show FIGHTER COLXTR Y Aug. 28, 1997 Photos by Airman 1st class Sara Banda Staff Sgt. Richard Kilboy and Senior Airman Shawn Trylick, 34th Fighter Squadron, ready their weapons, Hunted: A. Rush 388th FW Public Affairs Office By Staff Sgt. James Crawling though the brush, the captain froze at the sound of voices. Silently, he watched as a patrol approached, tramping through the weeds. Almost close enough to touch, the captain hoped his camouflage would once more hide him from enemy eyes. This time he wasn't so lucky. The soldier spotted him, smiled, and pointed a powerful water rifle his way. "Gotcha!" The 34th Fighter Squadron Life Support Section took squadron pilots out into the Utah wilderness Friday for refresher survival training. Life support trainers and other volunteer aggressors hunted for "downed airmen" after spending the morning in a classroom reviewing lessons drawn from the basic survival course each pilot receives at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The 4th and 421st Fighter squadrons have held similar reviews this year also. "Pilots never believe they'll leave the aircraft, but there's a lot of things you can't do anything about," said Master Sgt. John Messina, 388th Fighter Senior Airman Matt Kyler, 34th FS, prepares lunch in the Utah wilderness during an exercise. Field trips prepare wing's pilots for survival behind enemy lines plants and bugs can be eaten are alterWing Aircrew Life Support superintendent. "But this is the exact training nately interesting and disgusting, the lauded that (Capt. Scott) O'Grady tips on finding and using water is some shot of the most important information covback came he when (from being ered. down over Bosnia)." "Water is important because you the Pilots are required to complete can go through three quarts of it a day," training once every two years. Those mission-readsaid who do not are not considered Sergeants Messina. "Even when said the sergeant. you're at rest, you've got to have water. 'You can't digest food without it.'? The lessons are based on a comCombat medicine, camouflage mon plan distributed by Air Combat Command. Each squadron is free to techniques, compass and global posiredevelop its own presentation of the tioning satellite use, signaling, and also. included are actions Then, material however, allowing for percovery the pilots are taken into the field for a sonal experience to be added, accordvetdress rehearsal of a show they hope a ing to Sergeant Messina, never to perform. field. eran of the career "This is very good and necessary their Pilots learn ways to increase odds of survival before and after they training," said 6 pilot Maj. Chrisleave the cockpit. topher Maloy. "We run through the full esBefore beginning a mission, gamut of stuff planning, training and refamiliarization with equipment. cape routes and evasion areas are iden"It's about as realistic as you can tified based on intelligence reports. An isolated personnel report is completed get in this area. We were dropped off also which helps rescuers identify in a pretty remote area, had to make our way through the woods, hiding downed airmen. from aggressors all the time. This can Environmental needs food, sheldiscussed are water happen on any mission, anytime and ter and especially I'm much more prepared now." on which lessons in detail. While y, ! 17-ye- ar F-1- - - - Senior Airman Kyler verifies the identity of Capt. Tim Forsythe, (front) 34th FS pilot, using the captain's isolated personnel report. Corporate sports challenge roster shapes up 388th FW Public Affairs Office Utah CorThe 388th Fighter Wing's roster for and the athletes porate Sports Challenge is rapidly taking shape 0 are preparing for the Sept. competition. from local businesses in a vateams will face members Wing men's riety of events. Squads are already set for softball, bowling, still are and women's golf, basketball and tennis. Participants .V needed for several other events however. v; two' women. to and men four showdown needs A and women, can the wing. Volleyball players, both men represent indoor toumeys. A outdoor or compete in also. racquetball doubles tournament is scheduled, mile Individuals are needed for several races. Twenty-tw- o bike and 5K running courses will feature open (any may enter) and over-4- 0 classes for both men and women. Men and women can dash in sprints, too. Runners are needed for two relays, also. The race is for two men and two women and requires at least two relay is open to runners be over the age of 40. The everyone. 13-2- tug-of-w- ar four-on-fo- ur 100-met- six-on-s- ix er 400-met- 800-met- er er Pilots, continued from Pg. A Other less conventional events scheduled include the briefcase toss, executive triathlon, wellness walk and a wellness fair. The latter promises to feature dozens of interactive areas aimed events also feature hoola at improving health. These hoop, water sports and mystery relays. All 388th Fighter Wing employees, military and civilian are eligible to compete. Workers from Air Combat Command units operationally or administratively supported by the wing are alsp light-heart- eligible, The increased service commitment for new helicopter pilots standardizes the commitment with newly qualified aircraft. pilots of fixed-win- g ed u . - . Donations are being sought to pay for registration fees. Wing competitors need only purchase a team shirt costing about $7. it company with The Challenge is managed through a the purpose of improving individual health, providing wellness non-prof- education and promoting teamwork through competition. All funds raised from the Challenge are donated to the American Heart Association. Competitors in this year's Challenge include Iomega, the Defense Megacenter Ogden, 75th Operations Support Squadron and Boeing. Call Staff Sgt. James Rush in the public affairs office. for information about competing. 777-320- 0, "Although this change may have a slight negative effect by allowing some pilots to separate sooner," Gen. Richard E. Hawley said, "I am convinced that the overall effect of increased recruiting outweighs that, particularly since low recruiting threatens our vital student pipeline." For more information call the Military Personnel Flight, Special Actions and Retentions 6 or Office, 777-291- 777-357- 1. |