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Show Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES 3 TIMES August 7, 2014 Utah Disabled Veterans Fishing Event By DANA RIMINGTON Hilltop Times correspondent S TRAWBERRY RESERVOIR - It was a flotilla of fishing boats on Saturday morning where over 70 volunteers, most of them veterans, docked at the Strawberry Reservoir Soldier Creek Marina while nearly 100 disabled veterans waited to board the boats for the day of fishing last Saturday morning for the Utah Disabled Veteran Fishing event. The event began a few years ago as a way for veterans to serve veterans, and give those with disabilities an opportunity to do something they may not normally be able to do, according to Todd Hall, director of the Utah Disabled Veterans Fishing Foundation. "We see a gamut of serviceoriented disabilities, and many who may not be able to go fishing on their own, so this provides them with recreational therapy," Hall said. "Ninety percent of the volunteers are veterans, so when people talk about veterans helping each other, this is one of those times because they are the only people who really understand." Justin Smith, of Ogden, attended the event, having broken his back and neck while serving in the Marine Corps for eight years during VETERANS FISHING DAY orttiftr*! UTAH DISABLED IM Flash Technologies Tec ss C.bew. D. Wi ldlife S mith and Edwards Pure Fishing Solutions American Land and Ss Yam Pc 144 •lva Leisure Knights rohvi-r.cul of Coman Stornoo coknIFtro ova les Coffee Soastrnen's Warehouse us hog Sew., Rthef GA:v0 Katialle Wongc 1.1.1reS EriNS Association uun oakum Armna/ kr Was Guard Utah SF r lit t , it Columb LIS Autumn Sound Company Eiari Community Trevor IP/ t Courtesy photo The Utah Disabled Veteran Fishing Event was started a few years ago by veterans who wanted to give back to other veterans. Coordinators of the event see many service-oriented disabilities at the event, but enjoy giving them the chance to do something they wouldn't normally be able to do with their disability. the Persian Gulf War. Smith has endured permanent nerve damage for the last 30 years that causes him to lose the use of his right leg and both arms at times. Fishing with fellow veterans was a memorable experience for Smith. "I have problems articulating my fingers, so my boat guide was right there helping me set up my pole, and I was able to do a lot of things I wouldn't normally be able to do, and as a result, I caught four fish, including a 20-inch rainbow trout," Smith said with a hint of pride in his voice. Hall became involved in putSee FISHING I Page 5 Tyndall AFB takes F-22 pilot training to next level BY MAJ. WILSON CAMELO, Air Combat Command Public Affairs YNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The Air Force's ability to continue developing a fifth generation fighter aircraft fleet ready to meet the challenges of future warfare, hinges in large part, on a steady influx of capable and trained F-22 Raptor pilots. Due to major collaborative improvements at the 43rd Fighter Squadron fighter training unit here, the Combat Air Force, or CAE is set to receive the largest volume of basic course graduate Raptor pilots in the program's history, with projections to graduate even higher numbers of pilots in years to come. The 43rd FS, along with the 325th Training Support Squadron, are responsible for worldwide F-22 student production. F-22 B-Course graduations increased from approximately 10 pilots per year on average to 23 pilots during fiscal year 2014. The program expects to graduate 30 pilots in fiscal year 2015. While increased numbers fall short of the 42 B-Course F-22 pilots the Air Staff said are required to meet the overall CAF fighter need, the trend is heading in the right direction. "We are not declaring victory, but I do think we have turned the corner on our ability to produce more B-Coursers," said Col. David E. Graff, the former 325th Fighter Wing commander. "We have an F-22 fleet flying better and more consistent than ever; however, I think we're only at 75 percent of where we should be. We can and will continue to improve." Wing officials said a major part of the recent turnaround is due to having more reliable F-22s available for training. Maintenance improvements and aircraft upgrades made during the last 12 to 18 months are bearing fruit now, as evidenced by the wing achieving the highest mission-capable rates in its history. In addition, the wing recently exceeded its sortie production goals for the first time and doubled the average aircraft available for training missions. In one year, the 325th FW has seen its student training timeline go from being 32 days behind in March 2013 to seven days ahead in March 2014 and 13 days ahead in April 2014. The 45-day swing is due to improvements and changes across multiple areas, said Lt. Col. R. Travis Koch, the 43rd FS commander. "There are things happening here that have never happened in the F-22 community," Koch said. "We are getting more capacity out of our capability and making our training more relevant to the CAF." ing' the syllabus and by aligning it better with the CAF mission," Koch said. "Coupled with more jet availability, we can then increase the quantity of B-Course students while maintaining high level (of) quality. We do have to keep a balance between the need to produce more pilots and developing their skillsets. However, we had plenty of places to make adjustments." Virtual realities Another major change added increased academic instruction and simulator missions. "Virtual training technology has improved to the point where simulators are no longer additive, but rather complement training sorties as an integral part of our comprehensive approach to student train- Rightsizing the syllabus Locations Tires LES SCHWAB BEST TIRE VALUE Trailer Ready? We Do Trailer Bearings Packs & Inspections PROMISE simulators, during the 2014 summer. It essentially doubles the simulator capacity and should contribute to an increase in B-Course student graduates as well as providing robust virtual training to help the 95th FS meet its combat readiness requirements. See F-22 I Page 8 20 minute!! Low cost and done in See the difference right away DREAM SMILES 7808.2000 W. Ste. 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The 325th TRSS is responsible for approximately 71 percent of the academic F-22 B-Course syllabus and 470 hours of the total 660 hours of academic training a B-Course pilot receives. "We have just as much Avis coilTy The F-22 basic qualification syllabus is one area that has seen sizable cuts and changes, primarily with the number of sorties B-Course students need to perform to graduate from the F-22 training course. Prior to the adjustments, a B-Course student required 43 sorties to graduate. The number is now down to 38 sorties. Track 1 course pilots, more experienced pilots retraining from other aircraft, also saw a reduction in the number of sorties needed to graduate, from 19 to 12 sorties. "We have the flying portion of the syllabus down to the minimum number of sorties needed to produce fully-qualified F-22 pilots through tightsiz- RA 26 ° ing," said Lt. Col. Jason Costello, the former 325th TRSS commander. The simulator training has been made even more realistic and reflective of the recent upgrades and modifications being made to the combat-coded F-22 jets in the fleet. However, the upgrades most likely will not be made to the 31 training aircraft in the 43rd FS inventory, so the only place student pilots will see that enhanced capability is in a simulator, he added. "While nothing can fully replace the realism of flying, the simulators give us the opportunity to add more robust events that they can't get in the air or with the training jets," Costello said. The F-22 simulator facility will be updated and expanded to house eight Passenger, light truck, SUV only. Not valid on any other offer. Not valid on previous purchases. NOT VALID ON SALE PRICES. Valid at Utah locations only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Some restrictions apply. Expires 08/31/14. 1 1 11 FREE 111E ROTATION OR FLAT REPAIR Passenger, light truck, SUV only. Up to 35" tires. Valid at Utah locations only. 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