BDOC: Keeping Eielson safe, sound

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing public affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Long hours and a fast-pace environment describe the daily grind of the Icemen working at the Base Defense Operation Center entrusted to keep Eielson Air Force Base safe and secure.

BDOC controllers work in what is commonly known as the nerve center of the base, providing 24/7 surveillance of Eielson and its flight line. Together with the Eielson Community, Airmen working at the BDOC contribute to the team effort to create and sustain a safe place for all members of the Iceman Team.

Senior Airman Andrew Aeling, 354th Security Forces Squadron operation base defense operations controller, said during his time as an operational controller, he has taken a wide variety of calls, including both emergency and non-emergency.

Controllers dispatch patrols to different incidents such as domestic disputes, security breaches, traffic accidents, and other support if requested. If an incident extends into the next shift, the controller on duty stays until the job is done, said Aeling.

Tucked away and well-secured, the BDOC is located at the heart of the "Cop Shop," where dispatchers await calls to disseminate accordingly.

"While working at BDOC, I keep my head on a swivel and it's required that I think out of the box when an unusual situation occurs," said Senior Airman Ashle Fike, 354th Security Forces Squadron controller. "It's good to have a good memory and great people skills, since most of my job involves dispatching Security Forces patrols to incidents and [engaging] with the base community over the telephone."

The 354th Security Forces Eagles Eyes, a base program encouraging the base populous to report any and all suspicious activity by calling 377-5130, is closely associated with BDOC.

"I believe that BDOC along with the Eagle Eyes program are the eyes and ears of Eielson Air Force Base, providing help when needed to situations and scenes of accidents," said Fike.

The BDOC has capabilities allowing them to monitor various access points on the base as well as the flightline, all of which further stress how critical the jobs of these Airmen can be when an alarm is triggered or people's well-being is threatened.

Whatever the call, the job and its responsibilities are critical to the success of the base all the time. As controllers, they understand treating each scenario with its due urgency and attention.