Page 3 - Nellis Creech NTTR Bullseye 1-15-16

BULLSEYE
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RPA, from page 1 ______________
Eye in the sky
RPA aircrews provide intelligence,
surveillance, reconnaissance and
strike capability to combatant com-
manders to achieve military objec-
tives on a constant basis, even though Italy, and Slovenian army joint terminal attacks controllers and tactical air control party
they are not physically located aboard operators as well as Slovenian PC-9M aircraft.
during CAS missions, like traditional
aircraft used for CAS missions such as provide the combatant commanders
the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Despite being geographically sepa-
rated from both the aircraft and
troops on the ground, aircrews of the
MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper
remain invested in the missions they
are supporting.
“The only difference between my-
self and a traditional aircrew member
is that I’m sitting in a room half the 60 in late 2015 allowing manning in
world away,” said Senior Airman
Shantae, 432nd Wing sensor operator.
“This job is important to me because
you can’t put a price tag on saving a
life.”
Even with the high operations
tempo, pilots, sensors, maintainers
and intelligence Airmen supporting
RPA operations find themselves fac-
ing manning shortages and resource
constraints and thus are unable to
provide every friendly on the ground
with RPA support.
“The demand for CAPs [combat air
patrols] and RPAs has gone up so radi- controller, picks up trash near the main
cally, the ramp has been so high, we
haven’t normalized and built a system
to meet the demand,” said Carlisle.
With RPA capability requests at an
all-time high, ISR missions continue
to be the number one most requested
capability from combatant command-
ers around the world on a 24/7 basis.
Dedication to the mission and pro-
viding help as much as possible are
shared feelings among RPA operators.
“Being able to help the guys on the
ground and bring them home is the
most important, however, while pro-
viding over watch for ground forces
and accomplishing the Air Force mis-
sion is the best part of my job,” said
Shantae.
While maintaining a 24/7, 365 days
a year mission has its challenges, the
obstacles faced by ground forces are
even more demanding.
On the battlefield
As the Air Force sees a rise in de-
mand for RPA capabilities they are
also seeing a steady rise in the need
for JTACs and TACPs.
Acting as skilled personnel on the
ground, these Airmen are trained to
direct the actions of combat aircraft
engaged in CAS and other offensive
and defensive air operations from a
forward position.
“Like the RPA career field, we are
seeing our fair share in manning
shortages,” said a JTAC assigned to
Air Force Special Operations Com-
mand. “It’s truly amazing what we can
Feature
Maj. Bryan Trinkle, 8th Air Operations Support Squadron operations officer and joint
terminal attack controller, discusses close air support training scenerios with Slovenian
army Sgt. 1st Class Sergej Savov, 1st Brigade tactical air control party leader, during a
NATO coalition combat capability training exercise at Pocek Range in Postojna, Slovenia,
Feb. 2, 2011. The exercise consisted of close air support training between Aviano Air Base,
as far as capabilities when we partner
together with RPAs to accomplish a
specific objective.”
According to Carlisle, the number
of daily RPA CAPs, has increased from
21 in 2008, which met more than half
of the Air Force’s needs, to 65 at its
peak in 2015, CAPs were reduced to
the RPA community to stabilize and
meet the current demands.
“Partnering two different capabili-
ties from the air and ground provides
us with the ability to develop patterns
of life for targets,” said the JTAC. “If
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan C. Byrnes base for litter and as part of the base
Airman 1st Class Zach Hartman, 99th
Security Forces Squadron installation entry
gate at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 12.
Hartman volunteered for Pride Patrol, a
clean-up program operated by the 99th
Civil Engineer Squadron.
3January 15, 2016
Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay RPAs on the Nevada Test and Train-
ing Range.
“The close proximity of the school
house to Creech and the RPAs give us
the capability to train in a life-like en-
vironment while allowing the guys on
the ground the opportunity to see the
aircraft up-close,” said the JTAC. “In
addition, we get to meet the crews we
and when the time comes to strike, could possibly work with in the future
we can do so with accuracy. This is so we aren’t just a voice over the radio
instrumental in moving to a safer ... we’re people too.”
military for future conflicts. Not to
mention, having the RPAs provide The message that the voices on the
over watch from the sky makes us feel radio are people too is something the
safer as well.” Airmen of the RPA community can
relate to as well.
In addition to CAP reductions,
the Air Force strives to provide more “What I would tell the world is,
Airmen with the training needed in don’t call me a drone,” said Shantae.
simulated environments. “Drones are autonomous; they can’t
participate in CAS missions, they have
In 2008, a “virtual trainer” for no heartbeat, there’s no skips, there’s
JTACs students was built at Nellis nothing there. It takes a human to
Air Force Base, Nevada. This facil- work with humans. My heart skips
ity allows JTAC/TACP personnel the when I hear a JTAC’s voice on the
opportunity to work side by side with line who’s engaged in a TIC [troops
in contact] situation. I’m not a drone;
PRIDE, from page 1 ____________ I’m just the new age operator.”
Yet creating perfect synergy capable
beautification project. of engaging the enemy from both the
ground and the sky isn’t an easy task
“This is a great program, and I be- its one Air Force officials are dedi-
lieve it is needed to keep our base clean cated to use move in the future.
because of all our visitors each year,”
said Quinories. “It is very important “What our Remotely Piloted Air-
because Nellis AFB is visited by many craft professionals are doing in today’s
distinguished visitors throughout the fight and in preparing for future
year, so at any given point we have conf licts is simply incredible. RPAs
many VIP’s on base that we do not even and their operators are in the highest
know about, so the base needs to look demand from our Combatant Com-
good at all times.” manders because of the situational
awareness and strike capabilities that
Pride Patrol is a great volunteer op- they enable. Despite being some of
portunity for Airmen and is a way to the newest weapon systems in the Air
give back. Force inventory, RPAs fulfill critical
demands in every theater 24 hours
“For everyone that is assigned to do a day, 365 days a year,” said Carlisle.
Pride Patrol, it is not a bad job” said
Quinories. “There is a negative con- For Airman 1st Class Zach Hart-
notation when people hear that they got man, 99th Security Forces Squadron
put on Pride Patrol detail, but they can installation entry control, it has been
look at some of the positive aspects. It a great experience.
gets you out of your day-to day routine,
you meet new people and is an oppor- “It gives you a break from your
tunity to network, and it’s a pretty easy regular job and gives you a chance to
and relaxed schedule.” clean up the base and take pride in do-
ing that,” said Hartman.
Hartman is an advocate of the Pride
Patrol program and believes that it is
the responsibility of everyone to keep
the base clean.
“If everyone would pick up after
themselves and not litter it would re-
ally raise the appearance of the base,”
said Hartman. “It’s important to take
pride in your workplace and throw
your trash away.”
“For people driving around Nellis
AFB, please be on the lookout for a
bluetruck with a big yellow ‘caution, ve-
hicle makes frequent stops’ sign on the
tailgate because that is the base Pride
Patrol driving around making sure our
base is looking good at all times,”So
you can take ‘Pride’ in your home sta-
tion Air Force base,” said Quinories.