Base prepares airmen for war

The 390th Fighter Squadron F-15's take off for deployment 25 June. The 390th Fighter Squadron is participating in Operation Sharpshooter 07-02 and is deploying to Base-X as part of the base exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ryan Crane) Cleared for release - SrA Megan Lyon, 366th FW/PA

BASE X, Unknown location -- (Editor's note: This story was written during the base phase two exercise June 27-28. The exercise simulated a deployment and was held to prepare Airmen for war. )

Since their arrival here last month, the Gunfighters have been flying hundreds of sorties to accomplish the mission, but this would never be possible without the Airmen who work 24 hours a day to keep the jets mission capable and in the air.

"They're doing an awesome job despite the high temperatures and attacks," said Chief Terral Ristow, 389th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "They are highly trained at home station and will continue supporting the high ops tempo mission."

Senior Airman Frederick McCarson is a crew chief with the 389th AMU and is responsible for performing maintenance on the F-15s aircraft and conducting launch and recovery for the pilots taking off and landing.

"I'm doing what I have to for my country," he said. "I'm excited to be here doing what I am trained to do and helping protect our coalition forces."

Before the pilots can take off and fly missions, the jets must be armed with missiles and guided bomb units by highly trained weapons specialists.

Staff Sgt. Jack Carroll, 389th AMU weapons load crew chief, loads the weapons that take down the enemy. "A full-up load takes about 35 minutes," he said. "With the high ops tempo we are loading non-stop all day, everyday."

However, even if the jets are armed and ready, without JP-8 fuel the mission would come to a halt. In the past 30 days the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight has offloaded more than 4.9 million gallons of fuel.

Staff Sgt. Ray Godfrey, 366th LRS Fuels Management Flight fuels distribution specialist, brings fuel trucks to the aircraft on the flight line and refuels them in between sorties.

"Each R-11 fuel truck holds about 6,000 gallons of fuel. Throughout the day I drive back and forth from the base fuel farm, which is where we fill up the trucks, to the flight line where we offload it into the jets," Sergeant Godfrey said. "It might seem monotonous but we know it's an important job."

These Gunfighters are just a few of the hundreds who give their all to ensure mission success every day.

According to the 366th Operations Group commander, thanks needs to be given to the workers who support the pilots whose defensive and offensive counter air missions are taking place each day. "

"Defensive missions keep the enemy out of our air while the offensive missions take down the enemy. So far we've taken down 35 enemy Air Fighters," Col. John McMullen said.

Without the support of our troops, none of this would be possible, said Col. Anthony Rock, 366th Fighter Wing commander. "We're doing a great job over here and will continue as long as we're needed."