Missile crewmember deploys with refuelers

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gino Mattorano
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Most Air Force missile crewmembers spend the majority of their time in an underground launch control center monitoring intercontinental ballistic missiles. But one missileer experienced deployed life in the flying world.

First Lt. Joe Page, a missile combat crew commander from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., spent 90 days as a flight planner for the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a forward-deployed location.

Lieutenant Page spent the last two-and-a-half years at Minot assigned to the 741st Missile Squadron, but when the opportunity to deploy into a flying unit became available, he jumped at the chance.

“In the space and missile career fields, we attend deployment training to work as a space duty officer in support of theater operations,” Lieutenant Page said. “When I heard about this opportunity, I volunteered for it to get an idea of how things worked in the flying world.”

Upon his arrival, Lieutenant Page was assigned as a mission planner for KC-135 Stratotanker aerial-refueling missions supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He soon discovered that mission planning was very different from working as a missile crew commander.

“Life in the missile field is a lot different,” Lieutenant Page said. “I had never done flight planning before, but once I got the basics down, it wasn’t too difficult. Mission planning for ICBMs mostly involves plotting coordinates for the missile, but for flight planning you actually have to plot waypoints and plan how the mission is to be flown.

While learning flight planning was all new to Lieutenant Page, his experience as a missileer helped him adjust to his new job.

“Being a missileer taught me to pay attention to details,” he said. “That’s crucial when you’re planning a flight for a refueler. If the refueler isn’t in the right place at the right time, other aircraft can’t get refueled, and the mission can’t be accomplished.”

The commander of the 908th EARS said he was pleased with the contributions Lieutenant Page made to the mission.

“Joe’s background in missiles helped bring a different and unique perspective to the 908th flight operation,” said Lt. Col. Robert Millmann. “He was able to help the aircrews analyze and understand the surface-to-air threats they faced on a daily basis in Afghanistan and Iraq. This certainly made him a valued member of our team.”

One particular aspect of the flying world Lieutenant Page liked was seeing the direct results of his work.

“In the missile field, we are constantly on alert and ready to respond at a moment’s notice, but you don’t get to see a direct impact of what we’re doing,” he said. “As a flight planner, I was able to see the direct results of my actions.”

He got to see this firsthand when he rode along on a refueling mission that he had planned.

“We had just refueled fighters, when we heard them being called to make an airstrike on a target,” Lieutenant Page said. “As I watched through the window, I could actually see the explosions on the ground. Mission accomplishment is just a phrase, but it was amazing to see it in action and to know that I had a part in it.”

Lieutenant Page is on his way back to Minot, but he said his experience in the flying world has given him a unique perspective to take back with him.

“We deploy in place in the missile field,” he said. “While we spend a lot of time away from home, it’s not the same as being deployed to a foreign land. This was a very rewarding experience, and it has given me a better understanding of how the rest of the Air Force deploys. I believe the knowledge I gained will help me throughout my career, both personally and professionally.”