PACAF F-16 Demo Team key to forging friendships in Pacific

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Terri Paden
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
Langkawi, Malaysia --  The Pacific Air Forces' F-16 Fighting Falcon Demonstration Team is an integral part of the command's ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. ties with its mission partners in the Pacific region.

Eight aircrew members and one pilot from Misawa Air Base, Japan, come together to provide the sole fighter demonstration team in PACAF, travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region to showcase the combat capabilities of the Fighting Falcon and represent the U.S. Air Force in the international community.

The latest engagement, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015 in Malaysia, marks the team's third successful airshow this year.

"When we travel to these shows we interact with members of the international militaries and represent the Air Force and the U.S. as a whole by putting a positive image out there people can relate to," said Capt. Michelle Hamland, PACAF F-16 Demo Team safety officer. "We've been received really well. Everyone is welcoming because they are impressed with the professionalism of the team. We always get positive feedback."

According to Hamland, the shows offer a unique opportunity for the demo team to work side-by-side with military members from partnering nations and gain insight and perspective into the way business is done.

"These events are a good learning opportunity for us and them," she said. "We get to see the structure of different militaries and how they operate and we put a face and a name to the U.S. Air Force for them, which could be huge down the line when future decisions are made. What we do definitely has a tangible impact."

While at the shows, the aircraft demo highlights the speed as well as the overall maneuverability of the jet, while the ground show displays the precision and expertise of the aircrew.

However, Hamland said it's not the performance that makes the team an important PACAF asset, but the face-to-face interaction with the local military members and airshow attendees that makes the biggest impact.

"Meeting the people on the ground is just as equally important as the show. When we go out to the shows and actually shake hands, greet kids, pass out stickers and have conversations with people we have an opportunity to set their opinion of the Air Force and the U.S. more than anything else they may have seen," she said. "People are really most excited when the show is over and they have an opportunity to meet the pilot who just put on that awesome show, or shake hands with Airmen."

Staff Sgt. Ben Simard, PACAF F-16 Demo Team crew chief, said being on the team allows he and his fellow Airmen a chance to "motivate, dedicate and inspire."

"Our professionalism is a direct representation of the professionalism of the Air Force," he said. "For some people we are the only Americans they will ever see in real life, and when we do our shows you can tell by the looks on their faces that that image is going to stay with them forever."

Simard said being on the team involves quite a bit of multitasking when traveling. Not only do the aircrew members serve as U.S. ambassadors through crowd interaction, they also fulfill their traditional aircraft maintenance roles before and after each flight.

"I definitely feel we are building lasting connections," he said. "We're not just shaking hands and telling stories we're fostering relationships."

Simard said the community interaction at the shows is definitely not something to be taken lightly. Members of the team feel a sense of responsibility to conduct themselves and perform to the highest standards possible.

"When we're on the road we're the face of our country," he said. "If we behave negatively that's all some people will take away so it's our responsibility to maintain a positive image."

For Senior Airman Enrique Verbera, PACAF F-16 Demo Team crew chief, it's not just winning over the hearts and minds of the crowd that motivates him to, but gaining the respect of his foreign counterparts as well.

"I like getting the opportunity to work with the foreign demo teams," he said. "We're always trading stories... we help them and they help us whenever possible."

Verbera said being at the shows and seeing how excited the crowd and other demo teams are to see their performance brings an added sense of pride in his work.

"We really get to see just how awesome what we do is when we travel to the shows," he said. "When we do our job right we get everything from four-star generals telling us they got goosebumps to small kids running up to hug us. It really puts it into perspective."