Bold Tigers return to sky

by Airman 1st Class Brittany A. Chase
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/18/2013 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 391st Fighter Squadron resumed flying July 17 after budget cuts required the squadron to stand down April 8.

The restored flying hour program represents Congressional action on the $1.8 billion overseas contingency operations reprogramming decision, making peacetime dollars available. The Air Force Council has approved the use of $423 million of those dollars to restore flying hours for affected units.

The money restores vital training and test operations for the combat fleet across the Air Force for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. This impacts not only MHAFB but other Air Combat Command units.

The return to the skies means a return to crucial training and development for Airmen.

"Returning to flying is an important first step but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery," said Air Combat Command Commander, Gen. Mike Hostage. "Our country counts on the U.S. Air Force to be there when needed--in hours or days, not weeks or months. A fire department doesn't have time to 'spin up' when a fire breaks out, and we don't know where or when the next crisis will break out that will require an immediate Air Force response."

The restoration of flying hours only addresses the next two-and-a-half months of flying. With hours restored until the end of FY13, the Bold Tigers will continue training in order to stay combat ready.

"Since our grounding we have worked tirelessly to sustain a limited degree of tactical proficiency," said Lt. Col. Richard Dickens, 391st Fighter Squadron commander. "Unfortunately, nothing replaces the experience of actual flying training, which will regain the combat readiness our nation expects and demands."

Airmen will be able to progress in training as the Fighter Squadron takes to the skies.

"Many of our newest controllers have been placed in a stop-training status awaiting an increase in traffic," Dickens said. "The only way to restore normal career progression and reduce the massive training backlog for our incredibly talented support personnel is to resume flying."

Although the 391st FS does not know what's in store for FY13, they're happy about the hours they've received.

"The 391st Bold Tigers are incredibly excited to start flying again," said Dickens. "In the true spirit of the Gunfighters, the Bold Tigers are prepared for this challenge to return to the skies."


"This decision gets us through the next several months but not the next several years," Hostage said. "While this paints a clearer picture for the remainder of FY13, important questions remain about FY14 and beyond. Budget uncertainty makes it difficult to determine whether we'll be able to sustain a fully combat-ready force."

Furthermore, the reinstallation of hours comes at a cost to future capabilities, including reduced investment in the recapitalization and modernization of the combat fleet.

"We are using investment dollars to pay current operational bills, and that approach is not without risk to our long-term effectiveness," Hostage said. "We can't mortgage our future. America relies on the combat airpower we provide, and we need to be able to continue to deliver it."

(Editor's Note: Information from this story was collected from ACC's Combat air forces to resume flying at http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123355835)