Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Marine AV-8B Harriers with the Marine Attack Squadron 231 assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., are parked on the flightline during basic fighter maneuver training at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Dec. 1, 2017.Shaw AFB pilots host sister services
                        
                        
                        Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers with the Marine Attack Squadron 231 assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., are parked on the flightline during basic fighter maneuver training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Dec. 1, 2017. Marine pilots received an opportunity to “battle” Air Force aircraft to include the F-16CM Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor and T-38C Talon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A U.S. Marine with Marine Attack Squadron 231 assigned to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., prepares to depart for basic fighter maneuver training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Dec. 1, 2017.Shaw AFB pilots host sister services
                        
                        
                        A Marine pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 231 assigned to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C., prepares to depart for basic fighter maneuver training at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Dec. 1, 2017. The Marine Corps participated in the training alongside Air Force and Navy aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Shaw AFB pilots host sister servicesPublished Dec. 7, 2017
                    
                    By Senior Airman Christopher Maldonado
                    
                    
                    20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) --**Pilots assigned to Shaw Air Force Base hosted Navy and Marine Corps pilots and took to the skies to duel each other, Dec. 1, 2017. 
The pilots came together for basic fighter maneuver training to strengthen the strategic capabilities needed to win air-to-air battles.
“Modern tactics are designed to destroy an airborne enemy before they ever see your formation,” said Capt. Dane Lannon, 55th Fighter Squadron activity security manager. “However, in the case that an aircraft makes it to the visual arena, known as ‘the merge,’ our pilots are extensively trained in the art of one-on-one aerial combat.”
These trainings, which are scheduled to occur annually, give pilots the opportunity to test their skills against different airframes. 
“Our pilots need to know how to maneuver their airplane in relation to an adversary who is trying to kill them,” said Lannon. “It's important to Shaw (AFB) and other bases because it's the building block for follow-on fighter tactics.”
The participating aircraft consisted of F-16CM Fighting Falcons assigned to Shaw AFB; F-22 Raptors assigned to Tyndall AFB, Florida, F-18 Hornets assigned to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia; AV-8B Harriers assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina; and T-38C Talons assigned to Columbus AFB, Mississippi. 
“There are jets from across the east coast flying in to meet in an airspace to fight each other,” said Capt. August Derosa, 49th Fighter Training Squadron instructor pilot from Columbus AFB. “It gives the aircraft the opportunity to fight other aircraft as opposed to fighting their own.”
These trainings allow pilots to see the advantages and disadvantages of fighting different airframes and hone their skills to win the next fight. 
“It provides you with a wartime environment mentality for when you are going against someone who doesn’t fly your aircraft,” said Derosa. “You must study your adversary and see where you are best able to fight them and be able to act on the spot.”
The 49th FTS rarely has opportunities to participate in these trainings, so to come out and train against other services is a great experience, said Derosa. 
Upon the conclusion of BFM training, visiting pilots return to their respective installations with more knowledge on how to adapt and overcome “foreign” airframes, increasing their mission effectiveness and response times when battling enemy combatants.Air Force 



training 



Fighting Falcon 



Air Combat Command 



pilot 



F-22 



AF 



Joint Training 



ACC 



Navy 



Marine Corps 



Tyndall AFB 



Columbus AFB 



Raptor 



Talon 



instructor pilot 



Air Force Base 



F-18 



55th FS 



F-16CM 



air-to-air 



55th fighter squadron 



Hornet 



Naval Air Station 



Oceana NAS 



Cherry Point AS 



air station 



AV-8B 



Harriers 



T-38C 



49th Fightier Training Squadron 



49th FTS 



basic fighter maneuver training 



BFM training 



adversaries 



Shaw AFB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil