Mission Spotlight: "Once green... Always green"

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Lotz
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  As the canopy lowers on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a loud roar fills the flightline as four fighter jets start their engines for a routine training mission.

The aircraft taxis to the runway just before the sun begins to set on Aviano's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.

Over the radio, the air traffic control tower clears the pilot for takeoff with "Once green..." followed by the pilot's response: "Always green."

The 555th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Triple Nickel, provides air combat power for the 31st Fighter Wing as well as NATO counterparts in order to meet national security objectives. The squadron consists of more than 20 F-16s to support the consistent flying mission.

"The number one priority for the Triple Nickel and 510th Fighter Squadrons are combat mission readiness, which is in line with the 31st Fighter Wing's mission of combat air power: anywhere, anytime," said Lt. Col. John Peterson, 555th FS commander.

The 555th FS hosts more than 20 fighter pilots, as well as seven key enlisted personnel, to help maintain combat readiness.

"We are the medium between the pilots when they are in the air as well as on the ground," said Senior Airman Julisa Cook, 555th FS aviation resource manager. "We are responsible for updating their forms and records to fly, we relay messages over the radios to maintenance and even take care of any computer problems the office may have."

Although the Nickel has several squadrons and units attached to it such as maintenance and aircrew flight equipment, the 555th FS is primary made up of fighter pilots.

Prior to becoming a fighter pilot at the Triple Nickel, officers chosen as pilots attend flight school to discover what aircraft they will fly. The pilots chosen as F-16 fighter pilots, train on T-38 Talons in an Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals course. After learning the basics and continuing their training at Luke Air Force Base, AZ, the newly trained fighter pilots receive orders to their new combat squadron.

"Even when you get here, you are not fully qualified," said Capt. Matthew Sabraw, 555th Fighter Squadron pilot. "All F-16 bases train and do something different. All you know how to do is fly the airplane and do some basic stuff."

According to Sabraw, the training at the Nickel is a tailored program to Aviano's specific mission. Once a pilot arrives at Aviano, they must complete the mission qualification training and a "check-ride" to become a wingman.

"Even after you become a wingman, the training never stops," Sabraw explained. "We learn things from our briefings because we come back and watch our tapes. We are constantly reading and studying. We eat healthy and work out to remain in peak physical condition for the jet."

A fighter pilot's job not only entails flying and training, but also performing individual tasks within their squadron to include records management, scheduling and training opportunities and keeping up-to-date on qualifications needed to be eligible to fly.

"We all have other tasks besides just flying," said Sabraw. "Someone is responsible for recording the hours flown; someone will make sure pilots are current with their proficiencies and training; we have other pilots who train the new guys and have a scheduler that will mark training days, as well as flying."

According to Sabraw, the Nickel's office is similar to other offices in regards to how everyday tasks are handled. The 555th FS gives several officers the chance to perform even the smallest tasks.

"I'm a wingman in the air as well as on the ground," explained Sabraw. "All brand new pilots take out the trash, sweep the floors and make sure the coffee is ready every day. It's good though because it keeps me humble."

As prior enlisted, Sabraw realizes the opportunities he has been given and has no complaints about being a U.S Air Force fighter pilot.

"For some people it may be parachuting or jumping out of a helicopter with a snowboard on, but the thing that makes me feel most alive, is sitting in that aircraft," said Sabraw. "It's even more exhilarating knowing that I'm an F-16 fighter pilot flying for Triple Nickel."