39th FTS Cobras take over San Antonio sky
By Janis El Shabazz, 340th Flying Training Group Public Affairs
/ Published May 17, 2018
JOINT-BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas -- Reserve Citizen Airmen took command of San Antonio military airspace May 3 during an annual training and readiness exercise here called “Cobras in the Clouds.”
During the exercise, 39th Flying Training Squadron Cobras assumed control of every training flight, operations desk, supervisor position and flight control tower. The annual exercise enables 39th FTS members to test their ability to execute their wartime mission: mobilize to offset the anticipated loss of 12th OG weapon system-qualified instructor pilots to pilot instructor training (PIT).
Lt. Col. Kyle Goldstein, 39th FTS commander, said the exercise keeps Reserve Citizen Airmen primed in the event that a real-world situation would result in all active duty pilots being recalled to their major weapons systems. Reserve pilots would take over the training mission to keep the pilot pipeline flowing.
“Every day our units work hand-in-hand, seamlessly, with the active duty units of the 12th OG to train those who will go on to fly any one of the Air Force’s tactical fighter aircraft or military transport aircraft,” said Goldstein.
Annually, the active duty and Reserve pilots enable the 12th Flying Training Wing to produce more than 850 instructor pilots.
Assigned to the 340th Flying Training Group, the 39th FTS mission is to train and provide a cadre of unrivaled, experienced instructors to augment the Air Education and Training Command mission. 39th FTS members represent 39 percent of 12th OG manning, filling a variety of roles including supervisory and leadership positions, and flying 8,203 training sorties in FY17.
“We have one of the most vital jobs in the Air Force,” said Goldstein. “We build the foundation of the Airmen who will be the next generation of aviators for the Air Force.”