Photo By Master Sgt. James Cason | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Niko Cloma, Airfield Management technician, radios into the...... read more read more
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U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND - With the sun radiating overhead, Staff Sgt. Niko Cloma, noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield operations, steps onto a U.S. Central Command flight line for the first inspection of the day. Radio in hand and eyes scanning every detail, he checks for anything that could hinder takeoffs, landings, or aircraft ground movement. His role is quiet by design; if things are running smoothly, few people notice. But flight line safety and operational readiness start with these moments long before engines roar to life.
“Being out here is a huge adjustment,” said Cloma. “Right now, the pace of operations is slower, but everything we do out here is still vital to making sure the mission is successful. We have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice in case something happens.”
Airfield management supports every mission that touches the runway: rapid airlift, refueling, aeromedical evacuation, partner-nation training, and more. Even on slower days, the standards remain the same. Every crack, hazard, and foreign object has the potential to delay operations, so vigilance never takes a day off.
Working with host-nation partners and joint units, Cloma ensures the airfield remains in compliance with both U.S. Air Force criteria and local coordination requirements. Clear communication and strong relationships are as important as technical precision.
“Staff Sgt. Cloma has already made me better at my job in the short time we’ve been out here,” said Senior Airman Gabriel Grannis, airfield management operator, “Just today, I was able to measure out a new parking space for an incoming C-5. In the past, they’d parked in an area that had the potential to interrupt other aircraft operations. With what Sgt. Cloma taught me, I was the one who measured that out.”
From verifying lighting systems before sunrise, to coordinating aircraft movement plans throughout the day, the airfield management team is the heartbeat between ground operations and the sky. Their ability to respond quickly keeps aircraft turning and aircrews confident that the runway is safe and ready. On days when no aircraft are scheduled, the job still demands full attention. Maintaining motivation in the lulls requires pride in purpose, knowing that readiness is not reactive, but built long before the call comes.
“My main goal on this deployment is to be a pillar of support for my team,” said Cloma. “I want to help make the flight line operate in the safest, most efficient way possible and pass on my experience to the Airmen deployed with me,”
As the morning inspection wraps up, the flight line is ready for anything the mission requires. While others might only see empty concrete stretching into the distance, Cloma sees something different … possibility, preparedness, and the confidence that when the mission needs to move, it will.
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 01:28 |
| Story ID: | 551069 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 23 |
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This work, Deployed to the flight line: Ready everyday, by MSgt James Cason, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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