First Air Force provides top cover for America

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Albert Bosco
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  While much of the Air Force is engaged overseas, one organization has remained behind to fulfill a mission equally important -- Operation Noble Eagle, the air-defense mission aimed at preventing terrorist attacks in the United States.

The organization comprises Air Force active-duty and reserve components, and Canadian military members serving in 10 fighter wings and three command and control centers.

“We have a steady-state mission of protecting the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands from airborne attack by terrorists or (anyone) who would be willing to use airborne objects to attack the U.S.,” said Maj. Gen. Craig McKinley, 1st Air Force commander.

Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, 1st Air Force operations went into high-gear to protect the continental United States from further terrorist aggression, both inside and outside U.S. borders.

“We monitor more than 6,000 flights at any given time, and we have flown more than 34,000 sorties since Sept. 11, 2001,” General McKinley said. “These sorties were conducted by ANG and active-duty units alike.”

The level of support is astonishing, General McKinley said. For example, active Air Force units have helped by flying combat-air patrols over specific areas, since they have large air wings and resources capable of meeting the demands associated with those missions. In turn, ANG aircraft sit on alert at strategic locations throughout the United States, he said.

Additionally, 1st Air Force has formed partnerships with such agencies as the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation and Secret Service.

“Before Sept. 11, 2001, we looked outward, primarily focusing on defending our air-defense identification zones from penetration outside the U.S.,” General McKinley said. “(We were) limited to responding to and defending against those threats.

“Now, our focus is internal,” he said. “Through our partnerships, we can see and communicate with (aircraft we are interested in) anywhere in the country. It took a lot of interagency cooperation to do that.”

At the heart of 1st Air Force are its air-defense sectors and its combined air operations center here. The Southeast Air Defense Sector is one of three facilities that monitors air traffic across the United States. The sector’s area of responsibility is the southeastern portion of the United States, spanning nearly 1 million square miles of airspace and 3,000 miles of coastline from Virginia to Texas.

Inside the sector’s facility, controllers use the latest computer technology to identify and track aircraft 24 hours a day.

“We have 200 full-time and 80 traditional guardsmen in the facility,” said Col. Charles Campbell, the sector’s commander. “Their job is to monitor the scopes and decipher what’s out there.”

Since the FAA is the primary controller of U.S. airspace, a representative is on duty in the facility to assist commanders with interagency coordination. When an aircraft cannot be identified through conventional means such as radio or radar, the FAA can coordinate with commanders and controllers to scramble aircraft to rapidly intercept and identify it.

CAOC officials must plan resources for the sector’s mission. The CAOC maintains operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year with the mission of planning the 1st Air Force homeland defense mission, said Col. Kevin Burman, 601st Air Operations Group commander.

“We’re the senior Air Force command and control agency here,” Colonel Burman said. “We operate a complete air tasking order cycle.”

The CAOC staff includes Airmen who monitor the sky over the United States and coordinate with government agencies such as the FAA. Based on the location and number of aircraft available, CAOC officials generate plans to determine how 1st Air Force will best conduct its air-defense mission.

Ensuring Americans are able to live normal lives, uninhibited by the threat of airborne terror, is the bottom line for the Airmen who make up the organization, and they take their jobs very seriously, General McKinley said.

“This second front of the war on terrorism, while not publicized a lot, is a very significant mission for (1st Air Force) and the Air Force,” General McKinley said. “Any failure here at home gives terrorists an advantage we don’t want them to have.” (Courtesy of ACC News Service)