Page 5 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 8-28-15

BULLSEYE Creech Feature 5August 28, 2015

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From throttle to brakes: ACMS maintainers make RPA missions possible

By Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen by Airmen of all rank and skill levels.
“It’s definitely a steep learning
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing
Public Affairs curve for everyone,” said 1st Lt. Joyce
Jackson, 432nd ACMS systems main-
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — tenance unit officer in charge. “These
Airmen are expected to still be able to
Imagine a wire-entangled room laden do their ‘normal’ jobs they learned in
technical training when they move to
with the sound of humming computer another base.”

drives, or a crowded air-conditioned In addition to the unique learn-
ing requirements, Airmen describe
ground control station dimly lit by the the most difficult challenge ACMS
maintainers face is adapting to a
glow of computer screens. constantly evolving weapons system
while combating low manning and a
In these locations one might also junior force.

find Airmen of the 432nd Aircraft “We’re getting new modifications
for the equipment almost every day
Communications Maintenance Squad- and that can be a challenge for us to
keep up but also for the follow-on
ron attending to one of the many training schoolhouse,” Quinn said.

antennas strung throughout the base. Constant modification changes
coupled with being approximately 40
These Airmen are part of approxi- people short of the personnel needed
to meet manning requirements ac-
mately 130 Air Force members at Creech cording to an Air Force Manpower
Study conducted in 2013, the ACMS
Air Force Base, Nevada, who make the members are always on the go.

remotely piloted aircraft enterprise mis- “We’re especially undermanned
with non-commissioned officers,”
sion possible every day through their Chester said. “That makes it challeng-
ing when we need training tasks signed
communication maintenance. off because only an NCO can do it.”

In a world where cockpits aren’t U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen Manning issues have been influx
in the plane, these traditional com- since before the squadron existed.
munications Airmen are put in a Airman 1st Class Stephen Parker, 432nd Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron
maintenance environment to link the ground control station maintainer, powers a ground data terminal used to transmit “For a while the pilots and sensor
ground control station, aka “the RPA signals needed to fly both the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft operators were locked into Creech
cockpit” to the aircraft. This capabil- at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 19. The GDT is responsible for providing the line-of- meaning they couldn’t leave,” Quinn
ity allows the pilot and sensor operator sight flying capabilities of an RPA. said. “What most people don’t know
is that we were too. Now that the hold
to control the plane both locally and trolled by the pilots via line-of-sight. ACMS is the only unit in the Air Force has been lifted we had a lot of people
who changed duty stations, and most
thousands of miles away, in an effort Once the aircraft reaches a certain where communications Airmen have were replaced by brand-new Airmen,
so a lot of experience is gone.”
to provide the necessary intelligence, altitude the ACMS passes it to a sat- stepped beyond their traditional Air
Like other RPA career fields, Air-
surveillance and reconnaissance so ellite link allowing the air crew to fly Force Specialty Code responsibilities men retention after their first enlist-
ment has proven to be challenging.
desperately needed by combatant in worldwide areas of responsibility, to fully maintain the entire communi-
“It can be hard trying to keep people
commanders of the joint U.S. forces 24/7. In addition to the aircrew and cations network of the RPA enterprise. here because they can go down the road
and get a job fairly easily and make
and its allies. maintenance personnel, ACMS main- “There is no other unit in the Air more money,” said Master Sgt. Timothy
Serrano, 432nd ACMS first sergeant.
“Essentially we maintain all the tainers are required to synchronize Force that does what we do,” said Maj.
Chester added that the Air Force
communications equipment such as the all the moving parts so RPAs are able Raymond Chester, 432nd ACMS com- gives the Airmen quality training and
then they can be hired by a civilian
antennas, ground data terminals, relays, to f ly. mander. “Not only do we maintain the contracting company for substan-
tially more pay. For those who stay, it’s
and links needed to fly an RPA,” said The Airmen of the ACMS make GCSs here at Creech used for combat mostly because of a passion for serving
their nation. Sometimes knowing they
Airman 1st Class Tyler Hosler, 432nd fighting the war and saving lives pos- across the globe, we also maintain lo- can make more money in the private
sector, the Airmen choose to stay out
ACMS RPA satellite communications sible every day. cal GCSs used in the formal training of passion and devotion.

technician. “We also troubleshoot com- While not unusual to see tradi- unit here to teach launch and recovery Despite the struggles and difficul-
ties, the ACMS works 24/7, 365, to
munication issues if needed.” tional cyber-trained Airmen at other and train our operators.” ensure the ISR mission is completed.

When an RPA f lies, it’s first con- RPA locations maintaining GCSs, the This unique unit isn’t just part of a “I’m so amazed at the intellect and
skills of everyone in the unit,” Chester
seemingly ubiquitous mission; ACMS said. “I see the passion, they’re proud
of what they do, which is supporting
Airmen are paving the way to the fu- the mission every day and it’s incred-
ible.”
ture of RPA communications support

while setting the foundation for the

new era heritage every day.

“Our Airmen were previously as-

signed to the flying squadrons and

then maintenance before the ACMS

stood up in 2011,” said Master Sgt.

William Quinn, 432nd ACMS lead

production superintendent.

In addition to being a special breed

of Airmen, there is no official training

school for cyber Airmen to prepare to

do the RPA mission at Creech AFB.

“We’re [ACMS] made up of radar

frequencies and cyber transport Air-

men, but because of what we do here,

the training we received in school

doesn’t really apply at Creech,” said

Staff Sgt. Anthony Wellens, 432nd

ACMS RPA communications techni-

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen cian. “Ever y t hing we do is learned

Airman 1st Class Ashley Kellar, 432nd Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron through on-the-job training which can

radio frequencies technician, patches in a ground control station for satellite link at Creech be a difficult transition especially for

Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 19. The 432nd ACMS is the only unit in the Air Force dedicated those who have been to other bases.”

to maintaining the communications network of the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise. The challenging feelings are shared