353 CTS blow up Scud launchers

Staff Sgt. Landan Simpson adjusts the dummy Scud missile during RED FLAG-Alaska Oct. 6, 2009, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Sergeant Simpson is a range radar quality assurance evaluator assigned to the 353rd Combat Training Squadron who set up mobile threats throughout the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex to emulate foreign surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery providing threat awareness and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance training to the blue forces during exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame)

353 CTS blow up Scud launchers

Staff Sgt. Steven Mangarillo reaches for tie downs to stabilize a dummy Scud missile during RED FLAG-Alaska Oct. 6, 2009, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Sergeant Mangarillo is a range radar quality assurance evaluator assigned to the 353rd Combat Training Squadron who set up mobile threats throughout the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex to emulate foreign surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery providing threat awareness and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance training to the blue forces during exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame)

353 CTS blow up Scud launchers

Staff Sgts. Landan Simpson and Steven Mangarillo assemble a mock Scud missile during RED FLAG-Alaska Oct. 6, 2009, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Both are range radar quality assurance evaluator assigned to the 353rd Combat Training Squadron who set up mobile threats throughout the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex to emulate foreign surface-to-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery providing threat awareness and intelligence surveillance reconnaissance training to the blue forces during exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Laura Goodgame)

353 CTS blows up targets for pilots

Published Oct. 7, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
Janine Thibault

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- For a job that requires a giant blow-up balloon, an outsider might think the task was no more than a game. But for the 353rd Combat Training Squadron, as well as pilots, the giant Scud missile and launcher decoy is an invaluable teaching tool.

Staff Sgts. Steven Mangarillo and Landan Simpson, 353rd CTS range radar quality assurance evaluators, travel more than once a day to the mountain site where the Scud missile decoys are located and began their work in the snow.

During RED FLAG-Alaska, the 353rd CTS takes an active role as they set up exercise targets. This process is the same to inflate a jumping castle except a little more of a balancing act with the tall conical missile that juts into the sky.

The 353rd CTS provides and inflates two targets the pilots will be calling in when they find them during the exercise. Pilots have to be able to distinguish between a real and fake Scud missile.

Sergeant Simpson, a Crossville, Ala. native explained the lengths they go to in order to test pilots saying, "Those inflatables also have heating pads that go in them so they can be picked up by infra red [system]."

Setting up the targets provides the tools to hone each pilot's visualization skills. To accomplish the mission, the pilots have to multi-task in order to find the Scud missiles while flying in simulated hostile-combat situations.

Sergeant Mangarillo said they set up each time with confidence that if pilots fly in snowy conditions, they would find spotting the decoy to be a real challenge. Even on a clear day, they place the decoys so it will be tough for the pilots to find as opposed to in the open field where it could easily be seen from about 15 to 20 miles away. The team also changes the missile site often to keep the exercise dynamic with changing mission objectives.

Once the decoys are set up, the crew must make the trip back up the mountain twice each day to maintain the generators, as the smaller of the two will deflate on its own and demands their return to revive it. The group can have long work days so it's understandable when Sergeant Mangorilla, a Mooers, New York native said, "...a good day flies by."

The squadron does not go into hibernation between Red Flag exercises but works year-round. Red Flag or not there are still tasks that must be accomplished. They also take people out on the range for distinguished visits and to conduct inspections. The QAEs have to maintain the sites and as the next Red Flag arrives prepare for the upcoming exercise.

The team takes their time and carefully plans preparations into each Scud missile and launcher set-up to be one of the highly-valued keys to enhancing training for pilots participating in Red Flag.