Turkey shoot tests TBolt teamwork

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Eight Luke Fighter squadrons broke new ground when they competed in the 56th Fighter Wing Tactical Turkey Shoot June 30 at the Barry M. Goldwater range.

Unlike ordinary turkey shoots where pilots drop practice bombs in a controlled environment at the range, the tactical turkey shoot forced pilots to rely on all their skills in order to fight into and out of the target area, according to Capt. Tyler Lewis, 56th Operations Support Squadron wing electronic pilot.

Major Jon Wheeler, 56th Operations Support Squadron wing weapons officer, described the event as teams of pilots competing to navigate their way to a precise time on target while facing a myriad of surface-toair threats. After their weapons had been dropped, they reroled to an air-to-air mission to eliminate enemy aircraft through four-ship tactics and maneuvering.

Every facet of this mission was graded.

This was the first time any squadron or pilot at Luke had participated in such an event. Not only were the pilots graded on their performance, but the units enabling and supporting the mission also competed.

Each maintenance unit was graded on criteria ranging from aircraft production to weapons loading. Intelligence briefers were assessed on their threat update briefs, and the Ground Control Intercept controlling agencies, were evaluated on their control of the air-to-air fight.

"The objective of the flight was to simulate combat-style pressure, evaluate all parts of the mission and publicly recognize outstanding performance," said Major Wheeler.

Each team of intel, maintenance, controller and pilots competed for a combined team award. In addition awards were given for individual components and personnel.

Part of the focus is to recognize the team as the Air Force achieves mission success through the contribution of every member of the team.

The results of the turkey shoot will be released at the wing turkey shoot awards ceremony Aug. 4.