Courtesy Photo | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rafael Gonzalez, NCOIC of squadron aviation resource...... read more read more
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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – A counter curves around an open section of hallway by an exit to the flight line at the Red Flag building here.
A beehive of activity, the Operations Desk is manned by calm and collected Air Force personnel performing the task of making sure that everyone and everything is ready for their mission. The electronic glow of flat screens and muted sounds of concurrent conversation underscore the intensity of this high-traffic area.
“The ops desk keeps everyone on the same page,” volunteered Maj. Clint Guenther of the 67th Fighter Squadron out of Kadena AFB, Japan – one of the 23 live participating units in this year’s Northern Edge exercise.
An air-centric joint training event hosted by Alaskan command June 13 through 24, NE11 provides the opportunity for U.S. military units stationed in the continental United States and the Pacific theater to sharpen their skills through practice utilizing Alaska’s vast Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
Approximately 6,000 U.S. active duty, guard and reserve component soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines with over 200 aircraft from all the services are currently conducting fully integrated, large-scale training tasks associated with joint operations. Communication is essential.
“I facilitate operations,” said Tech. Sgt. Rafael Gonzalez, NCOIC of squadron aviation resource management, 353rd Combat Training Squadron.
“I ensure that units participating in Red Flag, Northern Edge or Distant Frontier [exercises] have everything they need to function here as if they were deployed,” he continued.
Gonzalez, with 13 years experience in his field, describes the ops desk as the information hub. Everything prior to the pilot stepping – going to the aircraft – flows through the staff.
The scheduling system, Patriot Excalibur, keeps track of relevant mission flight data - from aircraft tail numbers to pilot names - and displays the information on-screen. Specific read files and flight crew information files are here. Weather and airfield status are readily available as conditions that may change after a pilots’ brief.
“I set up the ops desk the way they need it,” said Gonzalez, “and whatever they don’t have at the moment, I get. It gives me a chance to interact with people, and I like doing that.”
The job can be stressful at times.
“You learn to deal with it and press on,” he said, adding, “I feel honored to help. There are ways of relieving the stress, and I find mine in the gym or by running.”
Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, Gonzalez has come to appreciate Alaska for the things it has to offer. The outdoors and fresh air are a good fit for his interests: baseball, fishing, hunting, and spending time with family.
“Though that last one is more of an obligation than a hobby,” he joked.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2011 00:43 |
| Story ID: | 72236 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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