T-birds have Iron Focus

U.S. Air Force Capt. Anthony Bunker, 34th Bomb Squadron, right, shares a laugh with Col. Joseph Locke, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing commander, middle, and Lt. Col. Steve Raspet, 7th Air Support Operations Squadron commander, left, at the Oro Grande Training Complex at Fort Bliss, Texas, Feb. 4, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Olivia Dominique/Released)

T-birds have Iron Focus

Pfc. Joel Moon, an infantryman with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, provides rear security while other Soldiers maneuver forward during his company live-fire exercise at McGregor Range, N.M., Jan. 26, 2016. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Von Marie Donato/Released)

T-birds have Iron Focus

Published Feb. 29, 2016
By Senior Airman Hailey Staker
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The 34th Bomb Squadron "Thunderbirds" participated in Iron Focus 16.2, the U.S. Army 1st Armored Division's premier training event to prepare for worldwide operations at Fort Bliss, Texas, Jan. 25 through Feb. 4.

For B-1 bomber aircrews, the exercise was an opportunity to train on close air support and employ strategic bombing assets in a joint, live-fire environment.

"The 34th BS integrated with the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron and the 1AD, and were scheduled for two hours in the range every sortie to work with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers simulating CAS in a large scale," said Capt. Shawn, 34th BS flight safety officer.

Shawn added when aircrews practice CAS in the Powder River Training Complex, most often one of the aircrew plays the role of the JTAC fighting against simulated targets.

"Participating in Iron Focus allowed our aircrew actual reps working with real JTACS and actual targets," Shawn said. "This is the most realistic training we can get while on home [soil]."

This iteration of Iron Focus included nearly 4,000 Airmen and Soldiers. It also featured B-52s and MQ-9s, as well as the Army's major weapons platforms: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, combat engineer vehicles, mine-resistant armor protected vehicles, cavalry scouts, dismounted infantry, and javelin missiles machine guns.

While operating out of the Oro Grande Training Complex and flying approximately 12 sorties over the McGregor Range, New Mexico, the 34th BS spent a total of 72 hours of real-time training - as opposed to PRTC simulated targets. Additionally, the squadron was able to participate in joint operations, experiencing another service's capabilities and limitations.

"We are able to demonstrate to the Army ground commander exactly what we can and cannot do so when he or she has a B-1 overhead downrange, they don't have any questions on our capabilities," Shawn said. "Joint exercises also give aircrew an understanding of the complexities of battlefield tracking and the process required to employ weapons against a threat to ground troops."