116th hits milestone for missions

Eileen Byrd, 116th Family Support Coordinator, organizes goods that will be given out to needy families through the 116th Family-2-Family program. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Neville)

by Capt. Sandy Smock
116th Air Control Wing

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga., Dec. 6, 2007 -- Hitting historical landmarks is an ongoing occurrence for the 116th Air Control Wing.

A year after hitting the 20,000-combat-hour milestone the Joint STARS mission has reached 33,000 -- the most flown by any platform supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

December also marks 10 years since the officials declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for Joint STARS.

At any given time since 2003, over 200 116th members are constantly deployed in support of OIF and OEF and over 2,975 combat sorties have been flown.

Reaching these milestones means time away from home for 116th members. Some members have deployed in the last five years over five times.

"The most difficult part of deployments is the three month on and three month off rotation," said Staff Sgt. Nicole Beyer, an Airborne Target Surveillance Supervisor Army member who will be deploying for the sixth time in three years this December. "You are never really at home or deployed long enough to be considered in one place for a long time."

Providing theater ground and air commanders with ground surveillance to support attack operations and targeting to delay, disrupt or destroy enemy forces is the primary mission of the modified E-8C. Joint STARS serves as an airborne battle management, aircraft command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform.

Working in conjunction with the Army is one of the many unique characteristics associated with the 116th ACW. Every mission is a test of communication and team effort between the army and Air Force members.

"It was a culture shock to join the 116th Air Control Wing," said Staff Sgt. Beyer. "Air Force communication is so different than the Army. On the jet during a mission there is constant communication between officers and enlisted. The 116th environment is so diverse. There are so many groups of people working together to get the job done."

Staff Sgt. Beyer, who plans on getting out later next year to return to college full time back home in Wisconsin, attributes her military experience to her confidence and discipline. "I know these characteristics will be useful in the civilian world."

"We are able to solely focus on the aircraft and how we do business on deployments," said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Baker, also an ATSS.

Baker has been in the Army for eighteen years and has been deployed with Joint STARS four times in the last three.

One of the most important roles of Joint STARS is collection management.

"Some of the most important success stories for Joint STARS are based on forensic analysis," said Sgt. 1st Class Baker. "Soldiers are looking at real time imagery and noting patterns and activities out of the ordinary. This information can initiate army patrols to look at suspicious areas which can lead to threat termination to coalition forces."

With such a critical mission, Joint STARS high operations tempo affects all 116th members and their families. Responsibilities and stresses increase when deployments come into play.

"Being married to a soldier who has been deployed three times so far to fight for his country is a mixture of pride and heartbreak," said Bridgett Standring, Houston County school teacher and wife of Air Intelligence Officer 1st Lt. Keith Standring. "I feel pride in the fact that my family is bringing personal freedoms and liberty. Knowing that ideals which our country was founded on are being created for people in another country, especially children, is very rewarding. At the same time, every time my husband packs his bags and we say goodbye my heart breaks and our two young boys cry."

Being a part of the Joint STARS mission usually entails a guarantee of time away from home.

"I really appreciate the support of our families especially when their spouses are deployed during the holiday season," said Brig. Gen. Moore, 116th ACW commander. "I know separation is difficult for members and their families during all deployments but during the holidays it is so important that family members know they have our support."

Hitting milestones are a routine occurrence for the nation's premiere blended wing. Through future deployments and sacrifices members of the wing are sure to continue their excellence.