12th RS deploys at home and abroad

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway
  • 9th RW Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., (ACCNS) --  The RQ-4 Global Hawk flies with a completely different set of rules than what most of the Air Force is used to. With the unmanned technology of the aircraft, pilots can fly missions anywhere in the world from the safe confines of Beale. This unique operating procedure puts members of the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron in a situation all their own; one day they could be reporting for normal duty, the next, flying a mission supporting ground troops in a forward-deployed location. 

The 12th RS is broken into two sections: local and Air Force Central Command (AFCENT). Local personnel fly approximately eight sorties each week training and supporting local missions. AFCENT-assigned members are those who deploy to forward locations to operate launch and recovery elements, where pilots take off and land the aircraft. 

The 12th RS maintains nine personnel through a constant 60-day deployment rotation. A deputy director of operations, an instructor pilot and up to five pilots are responsible for the launch and recovery of each Global Hawk mission. Student pilots from the 1st RS are even tasked for deployment as part of their training. 

"Everybody deploys at least on 60-day shift a year," said Maj. David Gore, 12th RS. "It's very manageable and you really can't beat it." 

Once the 60-day deployment for students is complete, they finish their certification and join the 12th RS working night shifts for six-to-eight weeks. 

Immediate assignments to the night shift are done to optimize experience since most Global Hawk missions are flown at night. The mission control element is where flight operations take place once the aircraft is airborne and every flight, whether it's for training or AFCENT, is flown from Beale. 

According to Maj. Jay Hubbard, 12th RS assistant director of operations for the AFCENT section, the night shift allows newer pilots to familiarize themselves with AFCENT and accommodate them to mission requirements. The night shift is just like being deployed, he said. 

At any time a 12th RS member could receive notification of a deployed mission they'll be flying with as little as 12 hours to get prepared. This occurrence happens often and they must always be prepared to transition from a training mentality to a mission-focused mindset. 

To help with this transition, members go through a pre-mission briefing where they will try to take in every bit of information they can regarding the upcoming mission. Reviewing checklist procedures and mission requirements helps to re-familiarize themselves with the task ahead. 

"I start thinking about what we're doing over there and what our ground forces need," said Capt. Pete Grossenbach, 12th RS A-flight commander. "It's different from a training mission where I build my skills; now I have to put it to work." 

Major Hubbard said for the most part, pilots understand when they're flying an AFCENT mission and that's what they're supporting. They then think about what we can do to help the people on the ground. 

"You're not going to push the envelope as much on a training day. For an AFCENT mission it's different, the mission comes first," Major Hubbard said. 

Besides the task set before them, other obstacles they face include shift length and rest. The 12th RS makes every attempt to keep people on a consistent schedule but last-minute notifications can lead to longer flights and being too tired isn't an option. 

"Each day is a new mission and you have to make sure you're prepared," Major Hubbard said. "Everybody is different and you have to set yourself up for success. There are all kinds of things that could derail you. Most pilots have built a routine of how they prepare and it's almost second nature to them." 

While they may only deploy to a forward location 60 days out of the year, the mental and physical challenges of constantly adjusting to the mission keep 12th RS members busy. Flying missions 24-hours-a-day including weekends, holidays and base down days requires a dedicated mindset with an overall central focus. 

"It's our jobs; we do this day in and day out and we're always in the mindset of flying," Major Gore said.