Vance NCO supports coalition forces in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tony Wickman
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  A Vance senior NCO is making a difference in the skies over Afghanistan in support of coalition forces in executing Operation Enduring Freedom.

Since early September, Master Sgt. David Jones, 71st Operations Support Squadron assistant tower chief, has served as a liaison officer in the Kabul Area Control Center to de-conflict military combat operations from other military and civilian air traffic in Afghanistan.

"I am responsible for de-conflicting combat and combat-related operations from the KACC's enroute military and civilian air traffic," said Sergeant Jones. "The coordination is a continual process. I receive information from military forces needing combat support and then talk with the air traffic controllers to ensure de-confliction is accomplished."

According to Sergeant Jones, the KACC provides enroute services, air traffic that is coming to Afghanistan, for the entire Afghanistan country.

"My link in the big chain is to ensure civilian air traffic under KACC control is de-conflicted from military combat operations," he said. 'It can be ground operations, artillery for example, or air, like close air support, that impact KACC civil air operations."

Sergeant Jones is one of six Air Force people at the KACC compound that belongs to the International Security Assistance Force, which is home to several nations who are in Afghanistan to support the Global War on Terrorism efforts there.

"It is interesting to see all the coalition forces on a daily basis. We rarely see Air Force people here at my location. I am one of three liaison office team members, and the other three Air Force people are communications support and airfield management," said Sergeant Jones. "To everyone we interact with we are the Air Force. It's a big responsibility to make sure we bring credit to our branch and our country."

According to Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Olson, 71st OSS tower chief and Sergeant Jones' supervisor, the Air Force could not have chosen wiser for who would go on this deployment.

"The Air Force couldn't have made a better choice, he has a wealth of experience," said Sergeant Olson. "He has both tower and RAPCON (radar approach control) experience and knows both sides of the operation. He was the assistant chief controller for RAPCON here and is now the assistant chief controller in the tower. He is outstanding and worthy of the position he has earned.

"Out of 78, he is one of only four controllers who are currently qualified in both facilities. The training took well over a year to complete all 20 positions here at Vance. His primary focus is the tower; however, he can fill in at the RAPCON when the mission or manning dictates," he said.

As for representing the Air Force to the other services and countries, Sergeant Olson said Sergeant Jones will undoubtedly emphasize true Air Force values and what we stand for.

"I am proud of the guy and it's awesome that he is over there standing that watch," Sergeant Olson said.

For Sergeant Jones, the duty was a challenge when he got there, but he has settled in nicely.

"Adjusting to the operations tempo and getting adjusted to the job were the hardest things when I got here," he said. "I have never done this kind of job before and it has nothing to do with my job back at Vance. It took a couple of days and was a shock." From his vantage point, however, Sergeant Jones sees the job being done by the coalition and at Vance as vital to what is happening in Afghanistan.

"I think we are making a difference here. Just the sense of what is actually going on here is what I am going to take away from this deployment," he said. "And seeing the part Vance plays in that is rewarding. What most people don't see is that the pilots here in Afghanistan were being trained at Vance just a couple of years ago. You are seeing the end result of the Vance training product here."

As for what he would tell other people who are preparing to deploy in support of operations in Afghanistan, Sergeant Jones said to be prepared for anything and keep focused on doing the job.

"If you've never deployed before, heed the cliché 'expect the unexpected.' Many things are not going to be organized like back in the U.S., so you must adapt and use whatever guidance you can to come to a solution," said Sergeant Jones.

An example given by Sergeant Jones was traveling to a deployment location.
"Depending on where you are deploying to, getting in theater is easy, but getting to your destination may not be," he said. "We arrived at a (staging location) and signed up for a flight into Bagram, where 90 percent of the people we flew in with were going. We still had to make it to Kabul so we did the equivalent of thumbing a ride and went with an Army Aviation squadron aboard a helicopter--all the while lugging heavy pieces of luggage, body armor and weapons.

"Also, if you think you are deploying at an inconvenient time, get over it. My tour has caused or will cause me to miss my son's birthday, my wife's birthday, my birthday, my anniversary, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years," he said. "So just go and get the job done and come home in one piece."

He also said the support from home station is important, whether it was e-mails to say hello or taking care of personal issues for keeping focused on the job.

"I also have to include operator 11 at Vance. She has been great the times I've called and gotten her to patch me through to my wife. She deserves a day off or something," he said.

Sergeant Jones is most looking forward to reuniting with his wife Cindy and son Ethan when he comes home.

"Also, I'm looking forward to enjoying some down time, taking a shower longer than three minutes--although I am thankful to have showers--watching football playoffs and drinking a beer," he said.