Davis, Kading graduate from Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Published April 20, 2011 By Capt. Joe Markowski 3rd Fighter Training Squadron VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 3rd Fighter Training Squadron graduated 2nd Lt. Don Davis and 2nd Lt. Matt Kading from Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Class 11-FBV, April 14. 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. Lieutenant Davis earned the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association and Air-to-Air Top Gun awards. He will receive F-16 flight training at Luke AFB, Ariz. Lieutenant Kading earned the Air-to-Ground Top Gun award and will receive A-10 training at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. 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, F-15E, F-22 and A-10.