Nevadan flies first Raptor sortie for Air Force

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 | 8:23 a.m.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey "Cobra" Harrigan, son of Priscilla Harrigan of Henderson, is the first Air Education and Training Command pilot to fly in an F/A-22 Raptor, the U.S. Air Force's newest fighter.

Harrigan flew his first F/A-22 sortie last week while at Nellis Air Force Base on temporary duty to familiarize himself with the aircraft.

The colonel, who graduated from Reed High School in Sparks in 1980, is commander of the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and leads the squadron that will train F/A-22 pilots for combat.

Harrigan, also an Air Force Academy graduate, assumed command of the squadron last October.

"It was a great flight. It's an awesome airplane, easy to fly, easy to take off and land. I had a good time," Harrigan said. "It's everything you've read about -- from engine start to engine shutdown we were able to very easily get the jet out there, execute some maneuvers and come back and land."

Harrigan is part of the first cadre of pilots from Tyndall who will train at Nellis to become the initial 43rd Fighter Squadron flight instructors. Tyndall is expected to receive its own Raptor in late September.

"I think the most important part of this training and experience is that we are one step closer to building the cadre of instructor pilots that will train other F/A-22 pilots down the road," Harrington said.

"This aircraft will save lives -- depending on the mission, guys on the ground (in combat) or folks in the United States," he added. "This aircraft will have the capability to do that."

Support for reserves

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson and Sheriff Bill Young all signed statements of support for employees in the armed forces reserve in recent days. The statements were presented to the officials by The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense.

Since the terrorist attacks on the United States, the onset of Operation Enduring Freedom and the activation of thousands of National Guard and Reserve troops, employers are playing a critical role in national defense.

One way in which employers can publicly demonstrate their support for their National Guard and Reserve employees is by signing the group's statement of support.

Nationwide, 1.3 million Americans serve in the reserve forces. Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air Guard make up more than half the national defense strength.

"We are asking employers to go out of their way for their employees who serve by signing a statement of support," said Bobby G. Hollingsworth, executive director for the national committee for ESGR. A statement of support serves two very vital functions: First, it demonstrates the strong level of support for our Guard and Reserve, which is important during this critical time, and second, it sends a clear message to the service members that while they're serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs."

"Mayor Goodman and the City Council have taken the lead by demonstrating their commitment to our Reserve Forces and to winning the war on terrorism," Hollingsworth added. "By signing a statement of support, Mayor Goodman and the city of Las Vegas are making a valuable contribution to the quality of life of the city of Las Vegas' Guard and Reserve employees, and to our national defense effort."

In brief

Kestler earned distinction as an honor graduate.