Space team assists warfighters in Bahrain

Space team assists warfighters in Bahrain

Released: Apr 21, 1998

by Capt. Amy Rogerson
14th Air Force Public Affairs

FALCON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Space capabilities are launching into the cockpits and foxholes of warfighters around the globe. Nobody knows this better than the 347th Air Expedition Wing from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., recently home from a nearly six-month deployment to Shaikhosa Air Base, Bahrain. The 347th AEW enjoyed the benefits of six Air Force Space Support Team members from the 76th Space Operations Squadron here that deployed with them for theater space support.

Majs. Brian Pletchner and Austin Jameson, Capt. Bob Graves, Tech. Sgt. Pat Gordon and Staff Sgts. Jeff Reasoner and Brian Kozma are members of the 76th's AFSST, that deployed with the AEW from Moody in late November to Bahrain, and returned home earlier this month.

For nearly three years, space support teams from the 76th SOPS have been providing space support to military units throughout the world. Military units who want field space support request an AFSST through 14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Fourteenth Air Force then tasks the 76th SOPS and a team is assigned to fill the request. Graves explained this particular mission in Bahrain was to provide space capabilities to the Air Expeditionary Force there.

"We did several things for the expeditionary force," said Graves. "First, we provided situational awareness capability. This gives them an integrated air and threat picture."

The team did a Global Positioning System survey of the flightline improving the wing's navigational capabilities, a major aid to the flying community there. Also helping the pilots, Graves said the team produced more than 500 custom imagery products, "target pictures," for bombing scenarios. The imagery products increase the aircrew's situational awareness and reduce flight preparation time.

Another big part of the teams' presence was making recommendations to the wing operations staff. AFSST members made recommendations on improving missile warning procedures, and voice notification with the theater network in place.

The team also brought a portable system to the field to provide user-friendly missile warning data. It gave commanders more time to alert members of missile warnings.

Graves said the most important role they have while deployed is providing wing personnel with immediate access to information on the available space assets at the AEW's disposal.

"They were really happy for us to be there," he said. "And we couldn't have asked for a better group to work with."

The AFSST team had especially high praise for the 347th's commander, Brig. Gen. L.D. Johnston, who was grateful to have space assests integrated with his AEW. Graves said Johnston and his air wing staff were receptive to everything the AFSST team had to offer and were quick to listen and implement the team's ideas.

It isn't often you go to a flying community where the fliers know much about space, Graves said. In this instance, one of the F-15 squadron commanders had worked GPS issues at the Air Staff, he knew the value of space resources and worked with the AFSST team laying out the benefits of space for the expeditionary force there.

Back home now, Graves and fellow team members caught up on family and personal matters, but you can bet they'll be busy again soon. If the temporary duty rate of the AFSST teams is any indication, space is no longer a buzzword -- it's part of the warfighters' vocabulary. (Courtesy of Air Force Space Command News Service)

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Space team assists warfighters in Bahrain