Battle management from the air: Tinker officer, Aurora native, gets help to the troops who need it

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Capt. Kurt Cepeda is an E-3 Sentry Air Warning and Control System aircraft air weapons officer deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Here he is pictured by an E-3 Sentry on March 1. Cepeda is deployed from the 965th AACS at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and his hometown is Aurora, Colo.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

03.31.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- On the front lines of the international fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, one airframe helps get fighters on target for "troops in contact" on the frontlines for air-to-ground missions -- the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. In the that airframe, it's Capt. Kurt Cepeda's job to help make that happen as an air weapons officer.

"As an air weapons officer, I'm responsible for the command and control of aircraft that operate within the E-3's battle management area," said Cepeda, who is deployed with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. "These aircraft represent a wide range of the Air Force and coalition inventory -- from fighters, bombers and tankers to surveillance aircraft and even unmanned aerial systems. While I'm flying, I interact with the other command and control agencies in theater to execute the air component commander's plan, integrate airpower with the forces on the ground, and ensure safety of flight in one of the most complicated airspace systems found in any country."

Air weapons officers like Cepeda, who is deployed from the 965th AACS from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., 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.

"It's critical to have a command and control capability in theater to make sure that the ground forces are getting the air support that they need," Cepeda said. "As an airborne command and control platform, we often have communications with air assets that are outside the range of ground-based radios, meaning that we can help shorten the time it takes to get air support to the ground forces. The E-3's radar, communications capabilities, and data link suite make it a force multiplier that allows for the more efficient execution of airpower."

Major subsystems that aid Cepeda in doing his work in the E-3 are avionics, navigation, communications, sensors (radar and passive detection) and identification tools, the fact sheet also states. The mission suite includes consoles that display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Mission crew members like Captain Cepeda perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.

Since joining the Air Force more than seven years ago, Cepeda said he has come a long way in doing what he said is all he ever wanted to do.

"I'm proud to be in the Air Force and serving the nation," said Cepeda, whose hometown is Aurora, Colo. "I grew up with a family tradition of military service, so all I've ever wanted to do since I was young was to be part of the military. When I was in junior high school, I got interested in aviation, and combining that interest with the military made the Air Force a perfect career choice. I miss my family and friends back home, but I'm glad to be out here with my squadron and making a difference."

To Cepeda, in the end, he said what matters most is what he and his fellow AWACS Airmen are doing to help the troops on the ground.

"I spent my first four years in the Air Force as an intercontinental ballistic missile crewmember before becoming a flyer," Cepeda said. "I'm extremely grateful to have the opportunity to experience two very different sides of the Air Force. This is my first deployment and I'm excited to be in theater doing the mission I was trained to do. It's very gratifying knowing that I play a direct part in getting air support to the ground forces whenever they need it."

The 965th EAACS is an attached unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing 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 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

• Date Taken: 03.31.2010
• Date Posted: 03.31.2010 03:52
• Story ID: 47468
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)