Aircrew flight equipment tech enables flyers' mission focus

Photo By Master Sgt. Lakisha Croley | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Paul Wilson, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman, is deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.  

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04.24.2010

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA --The last thing an aircrew member wants to concern themselves with during an in-flight emergency is whether or not their survival equipment is operational. A team of specialists here in the 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron is charged with keeping this equipment ready, so aircrews can focus their attention on the mission.

One member of the 386th EOSS team is Senior Airman Paul Wilson, an aircrew flight equipment journeyman deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. He said those in his craft educate aircrews and provide them with the essentials for survival in a worst case scenario.

"As an aircrew flight equipment specialist, I provide aircrew members the equipment and knowledge necessary to survive in case something goes wrong," he said. "In doing so, this allows the aircrew to focus on the mission at hand."

The 2004 graduate of Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been in the Air Force for approximately 30 months. He said his job here in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility is essentially the same as at his home station; with just a few distinctions.

"Essentially this is what I've been preparing for back home," said Wilson. "The only differences are the higher OPSTEMPO, work hours and days spent working in the shop here. Not to mention the obvious higher threat conditions presented."

A typical workday in the AOR for Wilson includes issuing equipment, inspections and maintenance duties.

"I issue the aircrew their weapons and recovery kits, ensure the aircraft is properly configured with survival equipment, inspect survival kits, vests and various floatation devices," he said. "I also inspect and repack parachutes, maintain the crew members' helmets and masks, as well as their night vision equipment."

While all the steps taken by Wilson and his fellow life support teammates are critical to the mission, he said doing his job correctly allows flyers to concentrate their attention elsewhere.

"We provide the aircrew with the essentials to survive should anything bad happen so they can keep focused on the mission and know that the "what if" factors have already been thought of and prepared for," he said.

Working with survival equipment and constantly learning are aspects of the Airman's job that he really enjoys and his ability to multitask is critical to mission success -- helping him overcome obstacles.

"The most challenging part of my career field is ensuring equipment accountability at all times," he said. "Extreme attention to detail and being able to handle more than one thing at a time are important in this job. Attention to detail is critical since we inspect gear on a regular basis. Everything we handle is important and we have to take pride in what we do."

In his spare time, Wilson said he works out, talks to family, and works on school assignments. Currently halfway through his first deployment, he said he's pleased with the experience here so far and he takes his job and family responsibilities seriously.

"This is my first deployment to the AOR, so everything is obviously completely new to me," he said. "I had to adjust to new surroundings and get into a routine on-the-go. With that being said, it hasn't been all that bad. The facilities and installation have far exceeded my expectations."

"Deploying is what's required for those of us in the military; my family and I were prepared for it and I knew what to expect when the time came for me to leave," he said.

• Date Taken: 04.24.2010
• Date Posted: 04.24.2010 03:48
• Story ID: 48622
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)