Photo Information

Maintenance personnel prepare a 93rd Bomb Squadron B-52H Stratofortress for a sortie in support of the Mission Employment exercise, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 10, 2012. A combined maintenance team of 45 personnel from the 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings from Barksdale AFB, La., deployed to Nellis in support of the exercise and generated 14 aircraft sorties, resulting in a 100 percent mission capable rate. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Greg Steele/Released)

Photo by Master Sgt. Greg SteeleReleased

Barksdale Total Force package produces weapons graduates

22 Jun 2012 | Master Sgt. Greg Steele

Active duty and Reserve Airman, B-52 aircrews and maintainers from here combined to form a Total Force Enterprise package for a mission employment exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 4-15, 2012.

The exercise was the final training phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and capstone graduation exercise for soon-to-be weapons officers.

"It is a venue that integrates every platform involved in the weapons school," said Lt. Col. Kurt Schendzielos, 340th Weapons Squadron commander. "The  mission employment phase culminates the learning for every weapons undergraduate student, proving their status as the Air Force's most highly trained joint warriors skilled in the art of battle space dominance."

The 340th WPS at Barksdale is a geographically separated unit assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis, which is also home of the USAF Weapons School. The 340th WPS trains the Air Force's most advanced tactical experts in the employment of the B-52H Stratofortress.

"Our participation in the ME trains our aircrews in being tactical experts in the B-52," said Maj. Erik Johnson, 340th WPS director of operations. "It gives us the chance to show off the capabilities of the B-52 and the full range of firepower it can bring to the joint fight."

The students flying in the exercise were from the Air Force Global Strike Command's 2nd and 5th Bomb Wings, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing. The 307th BW provided three B-52s in the exercise, along with 45 maintenance personnel comprised of both Reserve and active duty.

"It is definitely one of the biggest TFE success stories out here, spot on, seamless, you can't tell these units operate separately," said Capt. Michael Maginness, 340 WPS ME phase manager. "Starting from the time we deploy until the time we step foot back at Barksdale, we operate as one unit, and that's a testament to the quality of the people."

A total of 14 B-52 sorties were flown during the exercise, consisting of seven Vulnerability Periods, which were times the B-52s were responsible for executing missions which simulated the employment of 10 different types of weapons ranging from long-range cruise missiles to very short range general purpose gravity bombs.

"We flew in very complex, tactical environments," said Capt. Matt Guasco, B-52 instructor pilot and senior ranking undergraduate officer. "As a member of the Blue Force, we'd have as many as 40 Red Force aircraft concentrating on locating and destroying us."

The aircrews also had to contend with surface-to-air missile threats to their B-52s while coordinating bombing attacks with B-1 and B-2 bombers.

"The missions definitely keep us busy," said Guasco. "The experience was outstanding because we learn about tactics and integrating with other airframes, which is something we don't get to do often at home."

The B-52 maintenance personnel also experienced this integration by sharing facilities and equipment with B-1 bomber maintainers.

"It gives our people, especially the younger airmen, a chance to experience a combat type, deployed environment," said Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Mummery, 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We're supporting a lot of sorties, so the tempo is high and our work hours have to be flexible."

"In the end, the mission employment phase was a huge success and we were able to graduate six of the USAF's newest weapons officers," said Schendzielos. "The knowledge gained by their experiences throughout the syllabus and culminating with the ME phase ensures that the B-52 will continue to help win the nation's wars and our aviators will be able to return home safely after accomplishing the mission."

Marine Corps Recruiting Command