Ground radar, airfield systems transfer functional authority to 354th OSS

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  In 2012, the U.S. Air Force identified that ground radar and airfield systems career fields should transfer as a cyber-specialty to an operations support specialty; joining them with the airfield management community.

Senior leaders revamped the program and aligned critical skills for two Air Force Specialty Codes, Ground Radar and Airfield Systems, into the operations support function already operating and maintaining the funding and systems management of those skills.

"Essentially the only change is ownership. The career fields are changing from communications to airfield management in the 354th Operations Support Squadron," said 2nd Lt. Andrew Williams, the 354th Communications Squadron airfield systems officer in charge. "Though the career field has always belonged to the communications squadron, the customer has always been the 354th OSS. The transfer should mean better continuity and even faster response times."

Major commands throughout the Air Force were tasked with completing the transfer of authority by Oct. 31, 2014. The 354th CS and the 354th OSS jumped into high gear to initiate and complete the transfer for Eielson's radar and airfield systems.

"Aligning airfield maintenance with operations is a great fit.  The professionals keeping the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems are now a part of the team that keeps our airfield moving and airpower flowing," said Maj. Mickey Jordan, the 354th CS commander. "We led this early on at Eielson to make the transition as smooth as possible for the Airmen and to keep sustained, stable capabilities available to the installation."

Representatives from both squadrons have worked to ensure the transfer is smooth and Airmen experience minimal disruption.

"Our career fields will switch from communications to airfield management, but we will still perform with the knowledge and skills we had before," said Senior Airman Keenan Herlocker, a 354th OSS airfield systems journeyman. "The systems remain the same and function the same, only now we will report to the operations support squadron commander instead of the communications squadron commander."

Icemen are also ensuring the future of continued airfield communications success, as Eielson plays an important role in aviation in the Arctic environment.

"You will not notice any difference to the effectiveness or placement of our airfield communications," Jordan said. "The Airmen keep the equipment operating at a high level of efficiency and effectiveness to accomplish our mission here on Eielson."

With the transfer complete, Icemen are ready for the winter season and whatever comes their way during next year's RED FLAG-Alaska exercises.

"We are the best at what we do," said Williams. "With the transfer, we will only get better."