No-notice exercise demonstrates Misawa readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman Jordyn Rucker
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa Airmen responded to a no-notice recall Sept. 15, 2014, as part of exercise Beverly Sunrise 14-08.

This base-wide response demonstrated to Col. Timothy Sundvall, 35th Fighter Wing commander, how quickly the Airmen under his command could generate aircraft and relocate them and personnel to a deployed location.

"[Base leadership is] looking for exactly how long it takes us to generate aircraft and be ready to fight," said Capt. Austin Brown, 35th Operations Group deputy chief of standards and evaluations.

Beverly Sunrise 14-08 brought new challenges to the wing, being the first no-notice deployment exercise where jets were flown to an actual temporary duty location.

"Today is unique in that we are actually taking those planes to a deployed location - it's a little deeper than we normally go," Brown said.

But before the first jet hit the skies, members of the 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit ensured the aircraft were mission-ready by checking screws, turning wrenches and reviewing technical orders.

Airman 1st Class Mitchell Gibson, 13 AMU weapons load crew member, viewed this exercise as a way to make sure his team is fully capable of fulfilling their duties.

"We know what we're doing and how to do it, and today we proved we can accomplish it in the time they give us," said Gibson.

These quick-turn exercises are a true reflection of what is expected of members of the 35 FW when it comes to being ready to support the Air Force mission.

"The Air Force is counting on the 35th Fighter Wing to be ready to execute multiple missions in different locations throughout the world at all times," Brown said. "This exercise shows we are able to respond to situations in different regions throughout the world - our maintainers, pilots and aircraft are reliable and ready to go."