Close Menu
  • Home
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • THINGS TO DO
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • Contact
Facebook
Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Niceville.com
Niceville.com
Home»MILITARY NEWS»Gorillas find success in Alaska
MILITARY NEWS

Gorillas find success in Alaska

Niceville.comSeptember 8, 20214 Mins Read
58th Fighter Squadron F-35A Lightning II pilots
58th Fighter Squadron F-35A Lightning II pilots step to their jets Aug. 10, 2021, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Flying away from home station allows pilots to increase their flight experience in a different, complex environment, better preparing them for the Combat Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Heather LeVeille)

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — The 58th Fighter Squadron’s student and instructor pilots completed required initial qualification training mission sets after a 14-day trip here, Aug. 6-20, 2021.

Advertisement
Smiling couple holding Eglin Federal Credit Union Mastercard with promotional rate

Student pilots flew 21 times, completing 4 offensive counter air capstone syllabus events each. The OCA missions were executed against challenging surface threats and flown against Eielson AFB F-16 aggressors, presenting challenging tactical problems that the students have yet to see in their initial qualification training.

“OCA training has been challenging due to the amount of aircraft we are integrating with,” said 1st Lt. Kirsten Eissman, 58th FS F-35A student pilot.

“It produces a lot of complex scenarios, but it provides us with great learning opportunities.”

While in Alaska, student pilots were put into a new environment and under additional stress to improve their skills as fighter pilots.

“For me, the most important aspect of offensive counter air training is processing all the information you receive while understanding the dynamics of a new environment,” said 1st Lt. Ben Hawkins, 58th FS F-35A student pilot.

Different types of OCA operations are used to achieve specific tactical objectives depending on the tactical problem. Airpower’s inherent flexibility allows missions and aircraft to shift from defensive to offensive (or vice versa) to adapt to changing conditions in the operational environment.

Advertisement
Smiling couple holding Eglin Federal Credit Union Mastercard with promotional rate

“The training they are executing is essentially preparing them for missions similar to what they will see in combat,” said Maj. Matt Tucker, 58th FS director of operations.

“The students received great training out here, learning how to deal with something new and different. Let’s say they go to combat – it’s going to be the first time they land at a new airfield, in a new airspace, with different people talking on the radio and doing different things – it’s more than just flying a jet; it’s about learning how to be adaptable.”

In addition to tactical training, the pilots in IQT were able to get a first-hand look into their future careers as F-35 pilots at an operational unit.

Advertisement

“The best part of being at Eielson has been integrating with an ops unit,” said Hawkins. “It’s great getting a sneak peak of what the expectation is going to be for us when we move to our operational unit in the near future.”

Much of the success of the two-week trip can be attributed to the work put forth by 58th FS instructor pilots. Developing the future of the Combat Air Forces starts with a top-quality instructor corps who continue to advance their own skills.

“This TDY was a huge success and such a win for the 58th FS,” said Tucker. “Not only were the students given some world class training, but the instructors were also able to improve and hone their skills as F-35 pilots and leaders.”

Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.

The instructor pilots dedicated countless hours to mentor the student pilots and prepare them for what is to come as a fighter pilot.

“The instructors were amazing,” said Eissman. “We all had to learn the airspace and local regulations at the same time, but they put in so many extra hours to ensure that we got the best possible training out here.”

Each student pilot completed their mission qualification check ride and have approximately four flights left before they are ready to move on to their operational unit.

Advertisement
Eglin Federal Credit Union banner ad with couple and low-rate Mastercard offer

In addition to the 21 student pilot sorties, instructors executed 67 sorties with a mix of flights in support of student training as well as instructor proficiency flights for a total of 88 sorties completed here.

Story by Senior Airman Heather Leveille, 33rd Fighter Wing

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleHealth advisory issued for Garnier’s Park and Lincoln Park
Next Article Renewed fire ant activity in fall provides opportunity for control

Related Posts

photo of a building with brown signs that have wording “Joint Training and Operations Center (JTOC) and 505th Combat Training Squadron and 505th Communications Squadron”

‘The house that Milt built’: Hurlburt celebrates JTOC launch

June 12, 2025
Smiling young boy with two uniformed rescue personnel after water search

Frantic search near Niceville ends with child found safe in water rescue

June 12, 2025
Bronze statue of Margaret Cochran Corbin at Women Veterans Monuments

Two new statues to honor women veterans at Okaloosa Island event

June 5, 2025
Advertisement
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
Smiling couple holding Eglin Federal Credit Union Mastercard with promotional rate
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
  • EGLIN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
  • EYEWEAR UNLIMITED
  • HAIR EXPRESS
  • MIDBAY VETERINARY HOSPITAL
  • NICEVILLE FARMERS MARKET
  • NICEVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY
  • RUCKEL PROPERTIES, INC.
  • THE WHARF 850
Advertisement
A square digital ad for Midbay Veterinary Hospital with multiple dogs of different breeds, a blue veterinary cross logo, Dr. Maya Chapman’s contact information, and a “Click” button for scheduling an appointment.
Categories
  • COMMUNITY NEWS
  • CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETY
  • FLORIDA NEWS
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • IT'S GEEK TO ME
  • LARRY WILLIAMS
  • LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS
  • MARKETPLACE NEWS
  • MILITARY NEWS
  • NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEWS
  • OUTDOORS
  • ROADS / TRANSPORTATION
  • SCHOOL NEWS
  • THINGS TO DO
Advertisement
The Wharf 850 Niceville, Florida
Advertisement
A horizontal digital banner for Midbay Veterinary Hospital featuring a dog and a cat, a blue veterinary cross logo, contact details for Dr. Maya Chapman, and a call-to-action button that says "Click" to make an appointment

ABOUT NICEVILLE.COM

PRIVACY POLICY

TERMS OF SERVICE

© 2025 Niceville.com. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.