Shaw Airmen ensure safety at Balad

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Three Shaw Airmen are ensuring people deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, remember safety.

Lt. Col. Chris Ashby and Master Sgts. Greg Patterson and Butch Rutan all work in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office at Balad Air Base, Iraq. They already have a working relationship from their home base in the 20th Fighter Wing Safety Office.

The three Airmen have been at Balad AB since Jan. 17 and will be deployed for up to 120 days.

"My efforts prevent mishaps and enable our aircraft to perform immediate support of troops in combat," said Sergeant Patterson, the flight safety NCO at Balad and here.

"We provide guidance on the safe parking of munitions-loaded combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cargo aircraft flying sorties daily in the fight against terrorist insurgents and in support of ground forces. We also work with every organization on base that stores explosives to ensure they are meeting safety standards," said Sergeant Rutan, the weapons safety NCO at Balad and here.

"As the air expeditionary wing commander's safety representative, I supervise our flight, ground and weapons safety shops. Our goal is to ensure proper risk assessment of all personnel while deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, enabling the full combat capability of our fighting forces as well as support personnel," said Colonel Ashby, the safety chief at Balad and here.

He also plays another role in the AOR.

"My position is unique in that it is also a flying billet," he said. "I fly close-air support missions in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, targeting terrorists and supporting the ground forces engaged with the enemy."

The job can be challenging, but rewarding, they said.

Sergeant Patterson said the duty location itself is the most obvious difference between being stateside and deployed. However, being able to do his job and see it affect real combat sorties instead of training sorties is the best part, he said.

"The biggest obstacle for the wing safety staff at Balad AB is the unique combat environment in which we are working," Colonel Ashby said. "Safety is a definite challenge with mortars raining onto the base, improvised infrastructure and minimal lighting. Flight and weapons safety is also challenged by daily live weapons configurations and combat expenditures."

Sergeant Rutan said there are distinct differences between operations stateside and the operations at Balad AB.

"The operations tempo here is strictly combat driven," Sergeant Rutan said. "We do not fly training sorties here; every flight is flown with combat munitions. The base is ever evolving with new construction and facilities changing hands and primary usage weekly. We are faced with new challenges every single day."

It's the trio's job to ensure people follow safety rules.

"We stress that it is a combat environment and folks have to remain extra vigilant, wearing reflective belts, carrying light emitting device flashlights, using the buddy system late at night, etc.," Colonel Ashby said.

Sergeant Patterson said his training has been vital to his deployment.

"Without my stateside training, I would be lost over here," he said. "Various technical schools have given me the knowledge that I need to perform the intricacies of my job, but also simple things like mission oriented protective posture levels and self aid and buddy care can be crucial to your survival."