JOINT BASE LANGLEY- EUSTIS, Va. --
Before a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor takes off for
training or a combat mission, maintainers and weapons Airmen are seen on the flightline
preparing, servicing and readying the jet to contest any airspace. However, it
takes more than fifth generation machinery and flightline 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 U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Habu, 94th
Fighter Squadron commander, these specific operational career field Airmen are
the ones behind-the-curtain that that 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 Habu.
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 that 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 U.S. Air Force 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 they have been given to show the reach for each weapon
or defense system.
The pilots then use the
printed out map to complete the process of mission planning and will prepare
the four-ship or mission commanders for the execution of the plan.
What is SARM?
Ensuring
pilots are combat ready at all times, squadron aviation resource managers are
the Airmen maintaining each pilot’s initial, annual and monthly Ready Aircrew
Program training.
According
to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lauren Craig, 94th FS SARM, the SARM also
coordinates with maintenance before the pilots step to ensure 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, the 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
AFE Airmen’s hands at all times of flight as they ensure parachutes, G-suits,
and night vision googles are mission
ready and in the worst case, ejection ready.
According to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Strayer, 1st Operational Support Squadron aircrew
flight equipment technician, AFE makes sure all the pilots’ equipment is flight
efficient; including survival equipment, breathing equipment, oxygen equipment and
anything it takes for them to fly their jet.
“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 Habu, 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 Habu. “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.”