GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron at Anderson Air Force Base is responsible for maintaining the RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft that provides global all-weather, day and night intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
“I don’t think that a lot of people know about the RQ-4 as far as its reconnaissance missions/sorties, but we're a very large team.” said Senior Airman Verneon Reed, 4th Reconnaissance Squadron Maintenance Journeyman. “We're a small squadron here, but we’re part of a worldwide crew. Each of us has a very important role in the mission.
Maintaining the RQ-4 is no small task but the men and women of the 4th RS work, day-in, and day-out to ensure the Global Hawk capabilities are available to our nation’s leaders 24/7.
The squadron consists of two parts, a maintenance section and a ground communications section, both work in tandem to ensure the aircraft is ready to fly.
“From here in Guam, we're able to launch the jet and recover it. But [when the RQ-4 is] in the air, the mission control element takes over flying. They're located in Grand Forks,” said Reed.
The thousands of miles between the aircraft and pilot can present some challenges; however, it also emphasizes the importance of communication, which offers certain advantages.
“It can be difficult for sure, especially with time differences and everything,” said Senior Airman Justin Massa, 4th Reconnaissance Squadron ground communications journeyman. “But I think that the extra bridge of time allows us to have more resources. Wherever we end up going, we can pull bodies from anywhere.
“Being at the forefront of taking care of the entire launch recovery element is a lot to undertake. But once you get to understand the reason we fly, it's very rewarding.”
As the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron continues to operate, the dedication and expertise of its personnel ensure that the RQ-4 Global Hawk remains a vital asset to operations within the INDO-Pacific region.
The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron is stationed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, under the 319th Operations Group, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota from which it operates RQ-4 Global remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) role.