Sullivan, Cooley graduate from Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jon Elza
  • 3rd Fighter Training Squadron
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 3rd Fighter Training Squadron graduated 1st Lt. Brandon Sullivan and 2nd Lt. Matthew Cooley from Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Class 11-IBV, July 22.

The pilots completed this phase of their training on their way to becoming fighter pilots in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II for the Combat Air Forces.

Sullivan earned the Air-to-Air Top Gun award. He will receive F-16 flight training at Kelly Field, Texas.

Cooley will receive A-10 training at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and then fly with the Air National Guard in the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, Ark.

The 10-week IFF course begins with tactical formation flights and then introduces pilots to basic fighter maneuvers and air-to-air employment in offensive, defensive, and high aspect fight scenarios.

Students bound for aircraft with an air-to-ground attack capability then move on to surface attack and surface attack tactics phases learning to employ ordnance against ground targets. The skills learned during IFF directly translate to the fighter aircraft these students will soon fly in their follow-on training and employ in combat.

The 3rd FTS is responsible for active duty, Guard, reserve, and international flying training in the AT-38C aircraft. The 3rd FTS provides training to fighter pilots entering Air Force and international fighter weapons systems, which include the F-16, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 Raptor and A-10.