TFI (Total Force Initiative): Reserve shares pod knowledge with AD counterparts

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Sherri Bohannon
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  Barksdale's reservists put the total force initiative into practice--working "in concert" with active-duty efforts to get advanced targeting pod capability mainstream on the B-52 bomber. 

"The concept we are working is that our most proficient instructors provide dedicated training to a selected group of active-duty instructors...we're training the trainer," said Lt. Col. William "Sleepy" Floyd, Reserve B-52 weapons officer. 

This training includes everything from improving the integration of the jet, upgrading the pod controllers and display, writing/updating academics, training and lesson plans, developing tactics and techniques, etc.. 

Pod Trainee Capt. Scott "Flash" Biggs, 20th Bomb Squadron member, flew his first pod sortie Thursday, Jan. 24. 

"It (the LITENING AT targeting pod) brings a tremendous advantage to the fight," he said. "With the combined ability to identify and laze our own targets coupled with our loiter time and massive payload, the B-52 will continue to be the most demanded striker in the combat Air Force." 

Once qualified, Captain Biggs and his pod-trained counterparts will conduct the initial qualification for each of the active-duty bomb squadrons. To date, 93d Bomb Squadron instructors have qualified flyers from Barksdale's 49th Test Squadron, 340th Weapons Squadron and 2d Operations Support Squadron. 

Reserve involvement has been "consistent across the board, first with laying the groundwork," according to Colonel Floyd, "beginning with full participation in the integration effort back in 1998 and continuing to this date." 

With coordinated efforts of 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air Combat Command, Reserve pod instructors developed and drafted the first edition training programs, academics and initial tactics, techniques and procedures inputs. 

Shared resources, time, effort, and most of all, experience, have been "key" in this process, according to Colonel Floyd. 

"The primary reason that 93 BS instructors have been used to begin the initial qualification training with 2d Bomb Wing is experience and resources," he said, adding that B-52 training has been conducted with AFRC targeting pod resources. 

With the colocation of Reserve and active-duty forces here at Barksdale, this process has worked out well, Colonel Floyd said. 

"The Reserve units have always been the front runners in testing new technologies on the B-52," Captain Biggs said. "These Reserve guys (and gals) have thousands of hours of operational experience in the weapons system. Integrating them as instructors with active-duty flyers is as seamless as it is beneficial." 

"The B-52 will be able to integrate like never before with the rest of the combat Air Force," he said. "The increased interaction with ground forces as well as other pod and non-pod- capable aircraft will keep our enemies shaking for many years to come."