SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In 2009, E-3 Sentry crews deployed with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing handled more than 22,000 aircraft in support of combat operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Airmen who handle those aircraft are people like 1st Lt. Timothy Hewitt -- an air weapons officer.
Hewitt completes his air weapons officer duties aboard the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. He is deployed from the 965th AACS at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
The first lieutenant, who through January helped his unit handle 1,687 aircraft during combat operations in 2010, described how his job is important to the overall deployed mission.
"As an air weapons officer on board the E-3, I provide airspace battle management," said Lieutenant Hewitt, whose hometown is Louisville, Ohio. "I execute tactical control and employment of all assigned aircraft operating over Afghanistan for example. I assist with theater air operations planning, surveillance coordination and weapons team management. I also direct and control counter-air, counter-land, early warning, combat search and rescue and aerial refueling missions."
Directing and controlling missions also help the troops on the ground, statistics from the 380th AEW History Office show. In 2009, deployed E-3 crews supported 994 "troops in contact" actions. These are actions where AWACS controllers like Hewitt direct aircraft for air-to-ground missions as ground troops face off with enemy forces in a ground battle.
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 Hewitt perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.
"What the AWACS capabilities bring to the fight is extremely important," said Hewitt, whose unit supported 33 "troops in contact" actions through January. "My job and airframe allow commanders the ability to have command and control anytime, anywhere. The E-3 is designed to go where ground-based radar and radios can't, and establishes a command presence in the area."
He has been in the Air Force for three years. Hewitt said his service makes him more appreciative of all the veterans who have served before him, and by being deployed, he's reminded of those who have paid the "ultimate sacrifice" for their country.
"I am humbled," Hewitt said. "There are others who have sacrificed more and given more of themselves, many of them losing their lives. I am honored to continue to serve in their absence and strive to always do my job to the best of my ability.
"I am so thankful to be here and to be given the privilege to serve my country," the first lieutenant said. "I miss my home, my family and friends, but this is where I am supposed to be and am glad I am here."
The 965th AACS is an attached unit of the 380th AEW. In addition to the E-3 Sentry, the wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragonlady 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.