924th Fighter Group reaches milestone in November

by Tech Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff
944th Fighter Wing

11/20/2012 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – The 924th Fighter Group reached a major milestone during the November Unit Training Assembly by conducting A-10 formal course pilot training sorties.

“This is a great day for the Air Force Reserve,” said Col. John S. Russell, commander, 924th Fighter Group. “Being able to do everything in-house adds a critical layer of self-sufficiency and increases mission success. Being aligned with Luke Air Force Base, puts the 924th in with other training units who are all focused on the same goal…producing more pilots. We’ve been fully integrated with our Active Duty teammates working side by side. Now we’re taking another step. Adding flying during UTA allows us to increase student pilot production for the Air Force as a whole. It’s a win-win and adds flexibility to the entire flying schedule.”

The new group has been recruiting and training personnel for two years. During that time, unit members have been working side-by-side with 355th Fighter Wing’s active duty personnel executing the A-10 pilot training mission.

Lt. Col. Terry McClain, commander, 45th Fighter Squadron, indicated that his squadron of instructor pilots have been integrated with the 355th FW since 2008 and routinely fly approximately 20 percent of formal course missions. One of the most significant things his instructors bring to the Davis-Monthan mission is their experience, he added.

“45th Fighter Squadron pilots average more than 2200 A-10 hours and more than six years of experience flying formal training unit missions,” said McClain.

The Fighter Group was activated in December 2010, and since then, the Tucson-based unit has been recruiting, hiring, and training Reservists locally to maintain and launch the Thunderbolt II A-10 attack jet.

“It has taken us two years of hard work to build the maintenance squadron to the point of being able to produce and fly sorties,” said Chief Master Sgt. Roy Close, 924th Maintenance Squadron superintendent.

“The cooperation and acceptance of our personnel by the host unit 355th Operations and Maintenance Groups has been tremendous. This is a true Total Force Integration success story,” said Lt. Col. Shirley Mercier, commander, 924th Maintenance Squadron.

“We have a great team and I have no doubt we will be totally successful in our mission because we have knowledgeable and skilled Airmen, who have lots of experience in their professions both on active duty and as Reservists,” said Russell. “I’m grateful and honored to have been selected as the first group commander here.”

“The 944th is proud of the work being done by the 924th Fighter Group down in Tucson,” said Col. Jose Monteagudo, 944th Fighter Wing commander . “They’re good at what they do and it’s an honor to have them in the wing. Launching and recovering our own missions are important accomplishments, and I have no doubt this is this beginning of great things from this outstanding team!”