Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Tinker 1st Lt. Brian Berry is an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System...... read more read more
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SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Lt. Brian Berry is an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft air weapons officer with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. The 965th EAACS is an attached unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The E-3 Sentry is used extensively for AWACS operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2009, E-3s from the 380th AEW flew more than 370 combat sorties supporting more than 990 "troops in contact" events.
In Moreno Valley, Calif., there are nearly 175,000 people. When Berry graduated from the city's Canyon Springs High School there in 1997, he was among many graduating seniors in Riverside County's second largest city looking to take the next step in his life.
That next step was to join the Air Force. Twelve years later, he has earned his way to the rank of first lieutenant and now serves as an air weapons officer deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Berry is deployed from the 552nd Operations Support Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. He said he's proud to be serving and working in his career field -- especially in the deployed environment.
"While deployments are always tough and being away from my family is at times overwhelming, I am proud to serve in the Air Force and proud of the work we are doing to keep America safe," Berry said.
As an air weapons officer on an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, Berry said he provides air battle management to all assets in the "battle management area." To do this, the 2005 bachelor's degree graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Fla., works with the senior director (senior weapons officer) in the weapons section of the E-3 Sentry with other air weapons officers controlling aircraft.
Air weapons officers provide a "broad spectrum picture" to air operations on the E-3 that no other airframe offers in the deployed theater offers. The E-3 mission platform, according to its Air Force fact sheet, provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied and coalition operations.
Major subsystems in the E-3 are avionics, navigation, communications, sensors (radar and passive detection) and identification tools, the fact sheet also shows. The mission suite includes consoles that display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Mission crew members like Berry perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.
"Without the command and control of the battle management area the mission cannot be accomplished," the lieutenant said.
In whatever he has to do, whether it's flying numerous combat sorties in the E-3 Sentry or serving in the Air Force, Berry said he will continue to do his part in adding to the history of the Air Force.
"It sometimes feels like a thankless job, however when history looks back on us - I know we will be remembered as the ones who helped re-write America's story and keep our great country strong and free," he said.
The 965th EAACS is an attached unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The wing supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2010 00:15 |
| Story ID: | 45166 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 316 |
| Downloads: | 240 |
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