Flexibility helps 497th CTS Airmen succeed in Singapore

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
PAYA LEBAR AIR BASE, Singapore --  Col. John Rogers Jr. credits being able to “think outside the box” to the success of his Airmen who successfully perform their daily mission here.

Colonel Rogers is commander of the 497th Combat Training Squadron, a 36-person group comprising the basic functional elements of a small-scale fighter wing. Their mission is to support regular temporary-duty rotations of U.S. fighter aircraft here. The rotations resulted from an agreement signed in November 1990 between the U.S. and Singaporean governments.

For years, 497th CTS Airmen have been “doing more with less” even before it became the catch phrase for the Air Force. They work out of two areas in this tiny country. Aircraft and maintenance operations are conducted here while base support functions are carried out in Sembawang. The two areas are about a 30-minute drive apart.

The Airmen here maintain a stock of aircraft support equipment, tools, supplies and spare parts for the deployed Air Force unit. The squadron helps deployed units beddown their aircraft, and feed and house their people while they conduct air-to-air training missions with the Singaporean air force.

Team members said that with such a small contingent and a robust mission, pulling double duty and teamwork are vital here.

“Be diverse. Be ready to do it all,” said Tech. Sgt. Darin Opalenik, an aerospace ground equipment mechanic.

Although they fill one-deep positions, Sergeant Opalenik said everyone here is qualified and trained to do other jobs when someone is deployed or on leave.

“We just can’t shut down our operations. We [can] have customers looking for aircraft parts, others tracking supply items or someone who needs help to send priority mail,” he said.

That means Sergeant Opalenik could be a clerk, a supply technician, a transportation guy or a safety inspector on any given day.

“Everyone just steps up to the plate here and does whatever is needed to finish the job,” he said.

Finishing the job is always something Tech. Sgt. Michael Schrick, an F-15 Eagle aircraft crew chief, is accustomed to doing. Making sure his jets take off on time is second nature for him. A veteran of various deployments, he said that being stationed in Singapore has given him the opportunity to better understand the inner workings of temporary-duty coordination.

At a former base, Sergeant Schrick said he had help taking care of most of the administrative functions he is now glad to be doing here. At first, it was intimidating learning skills he was not familiar with, he said. Before arriving here, he did not even know how to use a fax machine. But now, less than a year later, he is well-versed with various office equipment and computer programs.

“I’ve done so much in such a short period of time. It’s been a great learning experience for me,” Sergeant Schrick said.

Aside from gaining new knowledge and experience here, Tech. Sgt. Randy Howe, a fuel specialist, said the best part of this assignment is the enormous responsibility and authority that comes with the job. With less supervision and a wider span of control, the Airmen here make decisions that unit superintendents or squadron commanders normally do.

“Unlike in the states where I can go across the base and ask for help, here I have to make the right calls quickly,” Sergeant Howe said.

“It’s amazing watching these guys roll up their sleeves when something unexpected comes up. We’re blessed with great people from top to bottom,” Colonel Rogers said.