Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Craig Clapper | Staff Sgt. Jesse McCarley, aircrew flight equipment craftsman, 113th Operations Group,...... read more read more
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SAVANNAH, Ga. - For Staff Sgt. Jesse McCarley, aircrew flight equipment journeyman, a bad day at the office could be the difference between life and death.
McCarley, a D.C. Air National Guard airman, is currently deployed to the Savannah Combat Readiness Training Center in support of the Sentry Savannah exercise, and he clearly understands the importance of his role in the training environment.
“If the pilot’s equipment, such as the G-suit or oxygen mask isn’t functioning properly, the pilot could lose consciousness and the results could be catastrophic,” he said, “I know the pilots trust what I do and I take that very seriously.”
McCarley’s responsibilities include teaching F-16 pilots the proper wear and use of their G-suits, helmets, oxygen masks and chemical defense systems on their suits. He also conducts egress and parachute training, as well as oversees the pilot’s combat survival training such as water and code of conduct.
Each day prior to the pilot’s suiting up in their flight gear, McCarley and his team ensure all equipment functions properly. As the pilots hook their oxygen masks to a combined aircrew systems tester before stepping out to the aircraft, McCarley is prepared to fix any last minute issues.
“I have many years of experience and I’ve been through three sets of career development courses,” he said, “I’ve seen a lot and I’m ready for anything that may pose a particular problem later on, especially in flight.”
The training during Sentry Savannah, which runs through the month of February, provides a few unique opportunities for McCarley, including a chance to assume a leadership position amongst his fellow team members and provide mentorship to his airmen on proper use and repair of the equipment. His knowledge and experience are essential to the safety of the F-16 pilots he supports and he welcomes training outside of his normal workplace of the 113th Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
“The training here in Savannah has been extremely effective as we [the DCANG] prepare for our upcoming mission overseas,” said McCarley. “The diversity of the aircraft flying in this training environment improves our pilots’ ability to fly in multiple scenarios, including air-to-air and close air support, so we have to make sure they have the best equipment ready for them everyday.”
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2014 17:04 |
| Story ID: | 120537 |
| Location: | SAVANNAH, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Aircrew NCO integral to successful Sentry Savannah training mission, by SMSgt Craig Clapper, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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