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Total Force Integration effort trains future KC-46 crews

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Bernal Del Agua
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard selected a group of total force Airmen to participate in initial operations test and evaluation as the Air Force prepares for the arrival of the KC-46 Pegasus at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

Each KC-46 will be equipped to receive fuel in flight and the crews who will fly during the IOT&E will need to be trained in receiver air refueling.

"Since McConnell is the only base that has receptacle-equipped KC-135s, known as R/T or receiver/tanker, we are in the unique position to perform the training before crews depart for Boeing-led training in Miami and Seattle," said Maj. Christopher Markley, 931st Air Refueling Wing KC-46 program integration office reserve operations chief.

The 931st Air Refueling Wing has been working closely with the 22nd Air Refueling Wing to build a training program to allow the IOT&E crewmembers to become receiver pilots.

"Cooperation with the 22nd Operations Group training shop has allowed us to successfully train all of our required crewmembers without impacting mission effectiveness on the active duty assets," said Markley. "In fact, the relationship has been so effective that several of our crewmembers are now R/T instructor pilots themselves and are able to train both active duty and reserve crews in the receiver mission, adding needed IPs to the base and ensuring training capacity."

An ANG crewmember from Pease ANG Base, New Hampshire, began his receiver training last week and will be continuing for the next few weeks with reserve and active duty crews.

"So far, I have found refueling as a receiver challenging to learn, but by no means insurmountable," said Lt. Col. Marc Zubricki, 157th OG director of operations. "The instructors here have all been great to work with, and I have had the benefit of being scheduled for numerous events each week. With each flight, I grow more comfortable flying so close behind the tanker."

Lt. Col. Zubricki's training represents a culmination of cooperation between the 22nd OG, 931st OG and the 157th ARW at Pease.

"It's a great example of how the [Total Force Integration] can benefit the Air Force overall," said Markley.