Misawa Diesel Weasel Exercise wraps up

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Allison Day
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Misawa Diesel Weasel Exercise wrapped up today after a week of intense training in the air and on land to prepare Airmen for their upcoming Air Expeditionary Force deployment.

F-16 pilots from the 14th Fighter Squadron will perform close-air-support missions when they deploy, but they're also responsible for armed overwatch.

"During this exercise we provide maximum exposure to that," said Capt. Benjamin Bartlett, 35th Fighter Wing chief of Wing Inspections. "We get as many high intensity training scenarios accomplished because the next time our pilots pull the trigger it will be in combat and lives will depend on it."

And because lives depend on what Airmen do in combat, there was no shortage of volunteers including joint tactical air controllers to help with the different scenarios.

"JTACs created realistic scenarios for the pilots to react to and provided accurate air-to-ground targeting information," said Captain Bartlett.

The strength of this exercise is its flexibility, according to Captain Bartlett.

"We are trying to strike a balance with our scenarios - challenging our pilots, but not overwhelming them," said Captain Bartlett. "If they are struggling to catch up with a scenario we can throttle back, if they are doing well we will ramp up the complexity."

The Diesel Weasel Exercise offered Capt Bartlett the benefit of changing the scenario according to how the pilots were doing.

"If the pilots are having no problem tracking a particular convoy, I can have the last vehicle simulate breaking down," said Captain Bartlett. "Or if the pilots have eyes or sensors on the enemy and are doing well, I can have the combatants swing around the good guys and outflank them."

In addition to the JTACs, various squadrons across the wing loaned their Airmen out to "play" in the exercise as convoy drivers, enemy combatants and non-combatants.

"These players added a touch of realism," said Captain Bartlett. "It also added another level of complexity for the pilots to sort through during a high-stress and time-critical situation. By the end of their sortie, pilots are mentally and physically exhausted and hopefully better prepared for combat.