|
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Since Dec. 2009, the MC-12W
Liberty has been providing critical intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
With their
motto, “Find, Fix and Finish,” the crew members on the MC-12W are
vital to the mission in Afghanistan.
|
An MC-12W Liberty takes off at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Jan.
27, 2014. The crew on the MC-12W is comprised of the pilot, the
mission commander, a sensor operator and a technology systems
operator.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman)
|
“We use our tactical systems operator to help find the
enemy,” explained Capt. Michael, 4th Expeditionary
Reconnaissance Squadron mission commander. “We then fix on
the enemy with a camera operated by our sensor operator, and
then we are a part of the kill-chain as well; we guide other
assets onto the target to be able to either eliminate or
capture the enemy forces.”
While a typical mission
only lasts five to six hours, the crew members on the MC-12W
are the eyes and ears for the U.S. forces on the ground.
The mission of the MC-12W and its crew members is to
provide tactical reconnaissance. The crew in the air builds
the picture for U.S. ground forces, as well as gathers
information and data about enemy forces.
“It is
important to know what's going on out there in the battle
space,” said Michael, deployed from the 489th Reconnaissance
Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif. “We provide a
gods-eye view for ground forces so they can see what is
happening. It gives them more confidence going into an
assault on a compound knowing they have an MC-12W above them
to be their eyes and ears as they are doing their
battlefield reconnaissance and assaults.”
The crew on
the MC-12W is comprised of the pilot, the mission commander,
a sensor operator and a tactical systems operator. Once the
crew gets their mission brief and flight equipment, they
step to the aircraft and prepare for their mission.
“Sorties can include a basic pattern of life mission, which
is just us doing over watch,” explained Michael. “Or our
missions can be something as advanced as supporting a
helicopter assault force. That's where we are providing
overwatch for hundreds of friendly forces on a mission where
the ground force attempts to find a high value individual or
enemy target.”
The spectrum of the mission really
ranges, so the crew members are always ready for any type of
mission set.
Michael adds that during the crews
debrief, they gather their lessons learned so that they are
able to go back out and do the mission even better the next
day.
The four-member crews of the MC-12W are
different with every mission, however. Due to the importance
of their mission, there is at least one MC-12W in the air 24
hours a day causing the crews to change and be flexible.
“Each person brings something different,” said 1st Lt.
Bryan, 4th ERS MC-12W pilot. “We have four individuals
working together as a crew. We've all had different
experiences and we are able to pull from those experiences
to help bring success to the mission we are supporting.”
With experiences ranging from finding a high value
target and preventing an Improvised Explosive Device attack,
to missions where there are friendly forces lost, crew
members know how important attention to detail is.
“The theater is always changing and that requires our
mission to always change as well,” explained Staff Sgt.
Jerry, 4th ERS sensor operator. “We have to be flexible and
adjust to change, so that we can deliver the best eyes and
ears for the ground force commander.”
The 4th ERS
commander, Lt. Col. Patrick Boland, says he couldn't be
prouder of the men and women of the MC-12W community, for
the work they have put in since the MC-12W's have been in
Afghanistan.
“The MC-12W community is phenomenal and
I am extremely proud,” said Boland. “But they should also be
proud of themselves and their families should be proud of
the work they have done in Afghanistan over the last four
years.”
Although the MC-12W crews can't always share
with their families the specifics about their job due to its
sensitive nature, they remain satisfied with being able to
Find, Fix, and Finish for friendly forces.
“The
MC-12 is a great platform, we love flying it, and it's a
great mission to be a part of,” said Michael. “I really feel
connected to the battlefield and you really feel like you
are adding value to what the ground force is doing out
there. We love our ground force customers; they really make
the whole thing happen, so we are glad to be in the air
supporting them as much as we can.”
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kayla Newman
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
Comment on this article |
