Ops Airmen, key to mission success

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie
  • 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LANGLEY- EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) --  Before an F-22 Raptor takes off for training or a combat mission, maintainers and weapons Airmen are seen on the flight line preparing, servicing and readying the jet to contest any airspace. However, it takes more than fifth generation machinery and flight line crews to accomplish the mission. A small team of behind-the-scenes Airmen ensure those piloting the stealth aircraft are flight and combat capable.

According to the 94th Fighter Squadron commander, these specific Airmen are the ones behind-the-curtain who play a critical role to the operations side of missions.

“Between the three teams of Airmen, they are providing the information, our gear and training to execute our combat readiness. They are the keepers of our readiness,” said the 94th FS commander.

Mission planning and gathering intelligence are the first steps. During this, specific pilots are chosen to fly sorties based on their skill sets and current training. Then, they go into mission planning where they use the data from their intelligence analyst Airmen to develop a plan.

Mapping out the Intel

There are many types of intelligence analysts who gather specific types of data, but in the 94th FS all-source analysts are trained to view all types of data. These analysts provide the most up-to-date view of current situations on the ground in a training scenario, or real world combat.

According to Senior Airman John Hartin, 94th FS all source intelligence analyst, having the capability to look at the big picture and understand all types of data increases mission effectiveness and improves wartime scenario preparation.

“An analyst’s duty is to make sure that the aircrew and the aircraft get home safely by updating them with any pertinent information on threats, and by charting out maps to give a visual representation of threats,” said Hartin. “With our data we can bring them home as safe as possible.”

The analysts use maps to plot out all data points to show the reach for each weapon or defense system.

The pilots then use the printed map to complete the mission planning, and prepare the four-ship or mission commanders for execution.

What is SARM?

Ensuring pilots are combat ready at all times, squadron aviation resource managers maintain each pilot’s initial, annual and monthly ready aircrew program training.

According to Staff Sgt. Lauren Craig, 94th FS SARM, the SARM also coordinates with maintenance before pilots step to an aircraft, ensuring the aircraft are in good condition and ready to go.

“The SARM's purpose is to effectively manage and update all aircrew flight hours, both ground and flying training, as well as sorties flown each month,” said Craig. “We have a great team here in the 94th SARM and we work hard to ensure these great pilots are safe and ready.”

After training requirement verification, pilots head to aircrew flight equipment as their last stop before heading to their jets.

Helmets, Parachutes and G-suits, Oh my!

Aircrew flight equipment is a key piece to pilot safety while in the air and on the ground. Pilots’ lives are in the hands of AFE Airmen’s hands at all times ensuring parachutes, G-suits and night vision goggles are mission ready, and in the worst case, ejection ready.

According to Staff Sgt. Robert Strayer, 1st Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, AFE makes sure all aircrew equipment is flight efficient; including survival equipment, breathing equipment, oxygen equipment and anything it takes for them to fly.

“If our equipment and work is not exceeding the standards, the pilot could go hypoxic, they could crash, and may not be able to breathe,” said Strayer. “We pack each parachute, clean and prepare each piece of gear, with every life in mind, so it all comes together for their safety. You have to do your job quickly, efficiently and you need to get it all done to make sure that the pilots are safe.”

According to the 94th FS commander, the 94th FS’ operations Airmen are experts in their field, who clearly understand the importance of supporting the mission.

“These roles are important, because the functions that these Airmen provide are absolutely critical to the mission,” said the 94th FS commander. “We could not execute if we did not have the intelligence that the analysts provide. If I didn’t absolutely trust every time that I put on my harness to fly, it was going to work, there is no way I could trust that airplane is safe to be in. Finally, I am having to provide 10,000 plus training items that the SARMs provide to relay up to the command, the 94th FS training status and combat readiness.”