163 RW graduates first ANG Predator FTU students

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Paul Duquette
  • 163d Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  "This is a momentous occasion. It seems every time I speak to a group of people, we've accomplished another first for the Air National Guard," said the Commander of the 196th Reconnaissance Squadron, Lt. Col. Kirby Colas, during a ceremony on May 15. "And this time it's the first ANG Predator Formal Training Unit (FTU) class graduation." 

The Predator, an unmanned aerial reconnaissance system, has been in use for more than 10 years, but prior to 2009 the only Predator FTU in the Air Force was at Nellis AFB, Nev. 

Since the wing's conversion from KC-135s to the MQ-1 in 2006, it has continued to be a trailblazer for the ANG. It was the first to open an ANG Predator maintenance schoolhouse; first to log an ANG Predator sortie in the U.S. and the first to open an ANG Predator FTU. 

Marking the culmination of all the 163 RW's pioneering was the first class, designated 09-06B, which began in March and lasted eight and one half weeks. The FTU is slated to hold five classes each year, with about 10 students per class. 

During his opening remarks, Colonel Colas explained the end result of all the preparation, which is a schoolhouse that produces Predator crews with almost all skill sets require to immediately fly missions in the area of responsibility. 

The Commander of the California Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Dennis G. Lucas, attended and spoke during the event. He addressed the graduates saying, "You just embarked on one exciting journey. This mission is very challenging, not only due to its 24/7 operations but because of the things you see and do." 

Though the FTU's instructors are qualified to train reserve and active duty members, class 09-06B consisted of only members from the ANG. There were five Predator sensor operators and five pilots, all of which were from N.D., Ariz., Nev., Texas and Calif. 

Upon graduation from the FTU course, students return to their home units and enter Mission Qualification Training (MQT). Everything the students learn in the FTU is the unclassified basics, while MQT is designed to transition the pilot into the classified world and bring them up to speed on their new mission. Once they complete MQT, which varies in length depending on the unit, they're ready to fly operational missions. 

Due to FAA restrictions, the Predator cannot be flown out of March ARB, so the 163 RW was required to stand up a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) out of Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA). It is here the unit's school house Predators are stored, maintained, launched and recovered. 

As a result of FAA regulations barring student pilots from operating the Predator in commercial airspace, the LRE has a crew of pilots and sensor operators that navigate the aircraft to restricted airspace over Edwards AFB, Fort Irwin and 29 Palms. Once there, the LRE crew passes controls over to the FTU student crew at March ARB. 

During local flying missions possible real-world scenarios are simulated. With this in mind, a unique joint training opportunity presented itself, which stemmed from the use of Army and Marine airspace. 

"We are currently working with the Army at Fort Irwin," said Lt. Col. Thomas Pritchard, 196th RS FTU commander. He went on to explain how missions are coordinated to fall in line with one another. This allows Predator crews and Army ground troops to work directly with each other during pre-deployment, simulating the same type of missions they would both receive overseas. 

"In addition to supporting the Army, recently we completed an exercise called Green Flag West," said Colonel Pritchard. "It's a close air support exercise based out of Nellis, working with Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC)." 

A JTAC can be Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force. They work from a forward position on the ground and direct combat aircraft engaged in close air support (CAS) and other offensive operations. 

"Soon, we hope to be working with the Marines during their pre-deployment training at 29 Palms," said Colonel Pritchard. 

During his closing remarks General Lucas addressed the entire room when he expressed the importance of this mission to the nation. "You will save lives of individuals you may never meet or ever know."