27 April 2012 - The Gulf Defender

A6 | Gulf Defender Tyndall Air Force Base
Friday, April 27, 2012
Training for war: an ever-changing process
By SARAH ENGLISH
325th Training Support
Squadron
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE —
Training for war is a serious
business, an ever-changing
business, and one the 325th
Training Support Squadron
does not take lightly.
Since its activation Jan.
28, 2011, the squadron has
dealt with complete structure
transformations and
partnering of units. During
this spring season of
renewal with change of
command ceremonies happening
in abundance all
over base, this squadron is
no different.
Though many alterations
abound in the squadron,
one thing remains the
same: its people’s dedication
to world-class training.
The 325th TRSS touts
an eclectic mix of military,
Department of Defense
civilians and contractors to
run its mission of producing
America’s Air Dominance
Team of F-22 pilots,
air battle managers and
intelligence officers for
worldwide assignment.
“One element of our
squadron’s culture, since
our activation in January
2011, has been the need to
rapidly adapt to changing
environments,” said Lt.
Col. Douglas Kugler, 325th
Training Support Squadron
Commander. “Our unit’s
experienced personnel do
a great job anticipating
changes and taking initiative
to implement adjustments
for successful mission
accomplishment.”
The squadron is now
facing new additions with
the T-38 training mission,
including red-air adversary
flying operations. “Red Air”
is when one type of aircraft
is used to play adversary
for F-22 aircraft in training
missions. In this case, T-38s
or aircraft visiting Tyndall
are an integral part of the
mission. The TRSS will be
vital in the T-38 training
program as well. Using T-
38s as adversary aircraft in
training missions is a way
to save the Air Force and
American taxpayers millions
of dollars each year.
“At first glance, pitting
the world’s greatest
Air Dominance fighter,
the F-22 Raptor, against a
third generation trainer
aircraft, the T-38 Talon,
seems significantly unbalanced,
begging the question,
‘Why?’ ” said Lt. Col.
Jason Costello, Director
of Operations for the 325th
TRSS. “Along with fiscal
savings, providing a dedicated
adversary for F-22
training operations saves
precious Raptor flight
hours for combat training
and real-world contingencies.
Because of this, the
TRSS is thrilled to lead
this new flying operation
and important training
mission.”
As a part of the 325th
Operations Group, the
325th TRSS will transition
with the rest of the 325th
Fighter Wing from the Air
Education and Training
Command to the Air Combat
Command this fall.
“Certainly, the projected
MAJCOM conversion from
AETC to ACC will also
impact our daily operations
and assigned resources,”
Kugler said. “The key to
providing world-class training
is staying engaged daily
with the factors that typically
drive changes in training.
Members of the 325th
TRSS have mastered this
and routinely participate
in aircraft modernization
planning, tactics forums,
safety investigations, operational
deployment assessments,
budget discussions
and formal training feedback.
The fight to keep
training current and relevant
is engaged daily.”
In the mix of all of these
changes is the squadron’s
Change of Command Ceremony
on May 4, where
Kugler will be relinquishing
command to Costello.
“I am honored and humbled
to be given the opportunity
to command the newest,
yet most experienced
squadron at Tyndall AFB,”
Costello said. “The dedicated
professionals of the
325th TRSS Black Bears
truly impressed me during
my tour as their director of
operations.”
Costello also spoke
about upcoming changes
for the squadron in the
next six months, citing that
it will be preparing for the
ACC conversion, sans the
325th Air Control Squadron,
which will remain
under AETC yet still continue
to play a role in supporting
the ACS mission of
training air battle managers,
which he says will create
unique organizational
challenges of its own.
“Tyndall’s conversion to
ACC brings with it new mission
growth in the TRSS as
we build upon our current
mission areas and add professional
flying operations
to our already robust portfolio,”
said the incoming
commander. “However,
in the midst of mission
growth and reorganization,
the Black Bear core
competency remains rock
solid ... we will continue to
provide expert management
of shared resources
and unrivaled training support
in the development of
tomorrow’s Air Dominance
warriors.”
Shortly after his departure
from the squadron,
Kugler will be retiring.
He also had some words
about the incumbent
commander.
“Lt. Col. Costello brings
an impressive resume of
experience and leadership
skills to shape the future of
the squadron and the 325th
Fighter Wing,” Kugler said.
“His command strategy
and leadership philosophy
have been developed during
several operational flying
assignments, service
as an air liaison officer with
the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, an Air Combat
Command F-15 East
Coast Demonstration Pilot
tour, service on the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and a variety
of educational opportunities.
We extend our best
wishes to Lt. Col. Costello
and his family as they begin
this exciting command
assignment.”