Pilots, former classmates share unique mission at Bagram

Published May 29, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- 1st Lt Mike McVay and 1st Lt. Eli Culpepper recently flew a unique mission here; the mission was unique not necessarily because of the objective, but because of the fact that two were flying together, as lieutenants.

"It is pretty rare to have two lieutenants in the same deployed unit and [to] fly a sortie together as the lead aircraft," said Culpepper, a native of Birmingham, Ala. "Usually by the time members complete the pipe-line pilot training they're already a captain."

The two A-10 pilots have known each other for nearly eight years after first meeting at the U.S. Air Force Academy. After graduating in the same class the two moved through pilot training together before reaching their first duty station at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. From there they deployed with the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here to support combat operations.

For the two flight leads the mission was unusual for them not just because of their rank.

"The mission we conducted was an armed-over-watch of a key leader engagement," said McVay, a native of Papillion, Neb, "during this mission our role was to act as close-air support in case anyone fired upon the compound. If the enemy opens fire, we would find and kill those targets."

Along with the two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets provided support to a high-level meeting for three hours.

The following day, the two classmates flew another combat sortie together and received their promotion to the rank of captain.

"It was fun getting to fly together on our last day as lieutenants and on our first day as captains," said Culpepper. "All our classmates from the Academy got promoted the same day as us but I bet they didn't fly a combat sortie with a fellow classmate while doing it."

Both pilots said their goal while in theater is to fly at least 100 combat sorties.

"Not only do I consider him a friend but I respect him and all of our pilots as 'Hawg' drivers," said McVay. "I trust that they will do the job and I hope they think the same of me."

According to Lt. Col David Haworth, 74th Fighter Squadron commander, if members look back to the original Flying Tigers history, lieutenant flight leads and even flight commanders were not that rare. Today the aircraft and systems are more complex making the training longer, but what hasn't changed, is the nation's demand from young Airmen.

"They are both leading flights in combat, making life and death decisions, that just doesn't happen every day," said Haworth, deployed from Moody AFB.

"It's a testament to the lieutenants that we would give them that kind of responsibility and it's something they certainly have earned."