Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Senior Airman Cindy Rafferty, a command post journeyman with the 380th Air...... read more read more
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SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In a combat zone, the relaying of critical information for Air Force combat leaders is as important as the movement of cargo or the refueling of a fighter supporting troops in contact. Without critical information at the right time, Senior Airman Cindy Rafferty says it can mean the difference in success or failure in an operation.
"That's why we have the command post," Rafferty said. "We're here to get that information to the right people at the right time."
Rafferty is a command post journeyman with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Command Post at a non-disclosed location in Southwest Asia. She is deployed from the 355th Fighter Wing Command Post at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. On her first deployment, Rafferty said she was more than happy to be working in a combat zone.
"I volunteered to come on this deployment," she said. "It helped so someone else could stay back and take care of things. This may be my first deployment, but it's been a good experience so far. We have an important job getting the information where it needs to go when it needs to be there. I like being at the heartbeat of that effort."
As a command post journeyman, Rafferty's Air Force specialty job description shows she's required to be able to operate and monitor voice, data and alerting systems. She's also required to develop, maintain and initiate quick reaction checklists supporting situations such as suspected or actual sabotage, nuclear incidents, natural disasters, aircraft accidents or incidents and evacuations.
In job knowledge proficiency, a few of the items command post Airmen must maintain familiarity with include Air Force organization and administration, command post supporting data systems and reporting, automated data processing equipment use, emergency actions and directives, command weapon systems movement and transfer procedures, and encoding, decoding and authorization procedures used by command leaders.
"On any day we could be sending and receiving operations reports or situation reports," said Airman Rafferty, a 2005 graduate of Averill Park High School in North Greenbush, N.Y. "We'll take that critical information and get it up to higher headquarters. Whether it's communicating through the giant voice system, or by radio, computer or phone, we meet the critical information needs of the base every time."
The three-year Air Force veteran said she joined the service for many reasons.
"I joined so I could further my education and get the benefits the military offers," Airman Rafferty said. "It's been a great opportunity to gain new skills as well."
In her time in the Air Force, Airman Rafferty said there is one thing she supports intensely -- being a good wingman. "I really am all about the wingman concept," she said. "Taking care of people is what that concept is about and it is for me too."
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: | 02.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2010 00:20 |
| Story ID: | 45763 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 214 |
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