Air National Guard to Conduct Live-Fire Training at Fort Drum

Media Advisory

Related Media

A bomb detonates in this courtesy photo from Fort Drum's Air to Ground Range. File photo.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (09/10/2012)(readMedia)-- Members of the Air National Guard will conduct live-fire training at Fort Drum's Joint Air to Ground range complex this week to better prepare Air Force personnel for their close air support missions that protect Soldiers in close combat environments.

Training will run this week from Tuesday, Sept. 11 through Friday, Sept 14. Range operations will include both afternoon and evening events as aircrews train for close air support in both day and night environments.

North Country residents may notice the sound of high explosive bombs at the ranges, especially with cooler temperatures arriving in the region this month. When air is cold, it is also more dense and a better conductor of sound over distance.

The training this month will include F-16 aircraft and crews from New Jersey's 177th Fighter Wing and the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing. The 158th Fighter Wing from Vermont is currently preparing members for deployment overseas.

Air National Guard ground controllers, known as Joint Terminal Air Controllers or JTACs from New York, New Jersey and other states will also be on hand for training in their role to designate targets.

The air to ground training includes evenings as aircraft, pilots and ground JTACs practice delivering bombs in nighttime conditions.

"The reality is most combat is fought at night," said New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Fred Tomaselli from the 174th Attack Wing. The wing maintains a fulltime detachment that operates the air-to-ground gunnery range that train aircrew members. "The effects are different with night vision goggles when dropping bombs at night, it is much more challenging in knowing where the friendlies are and seeing the target. It's much more realistic training," Tomaselli said.

The 174th Attack Wing detachment range staff also act as a single point of contact at Fort Drum for Air National Guard flying operations. They support other active duty and reserve component flying units and provide the coordination and scheduling required between Army units requesting close air support training and Air National Guard flying units that can provide those assets.

The training will continue on Tuesdays through Fridays for September 18-21 and again Tuesday through Thursday, September 25-27.

Range operations at Fort Drum's Joint Air to Ground Range 48 also include the pilot training for crews of the 174th Attack Wing. The crews drop practice bombs on the range on weekdays, Monday through Thursdays.

Members of the community with specific inquiries about the range training can contact the gunnery range at 1-800-228-3567.