493rd Fighter Squadron Trains at TLP 2014

by Master Sgt. Lee Osberry
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/24/2014 - ALBACETE AIR BASE, Spain  -- Members from the 48th Fighter Wing along with six NATO nations, are participating in the 2014 Tactical Leadership Program which kicked off here Jan. 13, 2014.

The purpose of the TLP is to increase the effectiveness of Allied Air Forces through the development of leadership skills, mission planning and briefing, tactical air operations and conceptual and doctrinal initiatives needed for NATO operations.

"It's an opportunity to bring NATO nations together in one location to build a really cohesive team, to safely and successfully tackle a tactical problem," said Lt. Col. Mark Sadler, 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander.

More than 90 Airmen from the Liberty Wing joined with European partners from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal for this year's TLP, with the goal to enhance the tactical proficiency of NATO air forces through dissimilar air combat training.

"The TLP is an important partnership capacity with our NATO allies," said Maj. Gen. Bill Hyatt, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration. "The program generates aircrew and mission commanders that are capable of leading Airmen across the spectrum of air operations."

Throughout the month-long program, participants attend academic lessons, then face numerous challenges and must work as a unified component to plan and execute the mission, in an ever-changing environment. A building block approach is used to progress attendees through 15 carefully structured sorties.

"Each day a tactical problem is given and the challenge is for each person in the room to step up and be a leader and lead the room to solve that tactical problem," said Sadler. "The key is getting everyone in the room to a common ground; [you] can't have 10 separate agendas and expect to solve the problem."

With approximately five hours between the initial threat brief and aircraft launching, getting to a tactical common ground must occur quickly to achieve mission success.

"Being able to interact face to face with our NATO counterparts goes a long way in discussing tactics and understanding how each country will operate," said Capt. Aaron Stevens, 493rd Fighter Squadron B flight commander. "The scenarios change every day, just as a real world scenario would and we're able to establish standard operating procedures. Therefore, if any situation developed where we would be side by side with any of these countries, the planning would be simplified."

While there's an emphasis on the flying mission during the TLP, the partnerships established can be found at all levels. Every facility has the participating nations collocated from operations, to maintenance and support personnel.

"The communication and friendships get better each day," said Senior Airman Tyler Woodwick, 48th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician. "We're able to see the other nation's equipment and gain a good understanding of how to operate and communicate when needed."

Woodwick's views are shared by other personnel.

"If something happens we all have to be on the same page and we have to know how to work with each other," said Staff Sgt. Wade McFarlande 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief. "This helps build that foundation."

"Exercises like this help our Airmen take a step back and see how we fit into that bigger picture, whether it's the guy turning wrenches, Air Crew Flight Equipment personnel or our pilots" said Sadler. "Having the ability to make friends beyond just the gold team makes us all better."

This year marks the second consecutive year that the 493rd FS have participated in the TLP and the continuity has paid dividends.

"Repetition is always a good thing, so when you have folks that have been here before, it helps with the preparations and getting operations off to a smooth start," said Sadler. "We took the lessons learned across the board and have seen improvement."

The 2014 TLP concludes Feb. 7, 2014.