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77th FS supports JTFEX 09-4

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matt Davis
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The 77th Fighter Squadron recently participated in joint task force exercise 09-4 alongside U.S. and Coalition forces consisting of Air Force, Navy and Marine aircraft from Sept. 14 - 21.

According to Capt. Kevin Crofton, 77th FS F-16 pilot, the 77th FS flew in eight different close air-support missions while supporting the JTFEX. While participating in the exercise, the 77th FS coordinated ground attacks with Marine and Navy SEAL joint terminal attack controllers in different CAS scenarios. 

Also while supporting the Navy surface fleet, aircraft were directed in contact with ground combat forces embedded in urban areas. The joint aircraft protected all defending ground forces in simulated combat operations. Many of the combat troops on the ground consisting of Navy SEALs, Marines, and Air Force JTACs provided CAS during the exercise.
 
"The most valuable aspect of an exercise like JTFEX is to practice and refine the ability for armed aircraft to fly hundreds of miles away into an unfamiliar airspace, check in with a given JTAC from any of the armed services on the ground, and be able to seamlessly integrate air power with the ground commander's intent within minutes," said Capt. Todd Zielinski, 77th FS F-16 pilot.

The exercise was conducted through most of the east coast from Norfolk, Va., to Brunswick, Ga., ranging up to 200 miles off the coast. The Coalition forces were from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and U.S. 

In an article by USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs, Brazilian Navy Lt. Cezar Santos was quoted as saying, "I think the exercise is a perfect training opportunity for us to practice real Coalition cooperation. This exercise is a great opportunity for the Brazilian Navy to learn and interact with other Navies." 

The JTFEX provided 77th FS pilots with many different combat scenarios that would prepare them for real-world combat situations while supporting U.S. and Coalition forces.

The exercise helped prepare the Harry S. Truman Strike Group to proceed into fleet-synthetic training for a final-deployment certification for naval ships.