SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to initiate a "head butt" as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov. 19. A head butt is an action taken by the intercepting aircraft, after other communications like radio contact have failed, to redirect the intruder in the appropriate direction. Shaw Airmen supporting the alert mission, from maintainers to pilots, standby 'round the clock in case they are needed. "We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I want everything to be ingrained in them so they can get the mission done." (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Michael Ragin, mission observer, right, and CAP Capt. Mike Gill, mission pilot, prepare a Cessna airplane to participate in Fertile Keynote, an exercise conducted by Shaw's alert force Nov. 19. Once airborne, the aircraft plays the role of a wayward aircraft so F-16 pilots from Shaw's alert force can practice intercepting the plane. The alert mission at Shaw is part of Operation Noble Eagle, which provides quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Senior Airman Justin Holman, 20th Secuirty Forces Squadron, takes his position during the alert exercise Nov. 19. "I'm protecting the alert area and aircraft," Airman Holman said. From time to time for training purposes, an individual will act as an intruder during exercises, he added. "Security Forces protect alert assets 24/7," said Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. "They block off roads coming in and out of the alert area until the command post says it's okay to let people through." (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman David Minor)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE S.C -- An F-16 alert pilot goes over his checklist before takeoff during exercise Fertile Keynote Nov 19. According to Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge, sometimes pilots will sit in their cockpit for as long as an hour, waiting for the go-ahead to take off. "The new marquees give (the pilots) direct communication with the operations desk, like coordinates to the target and when to start their engines." Pilots can see the marquees from their cockpit. "Down here they (the pilots) train to intercept aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Andrew Norton, alert maintainer. "They'll launch a Civil Air Patrol aircraft from another base, and our pilots track him on radar to escort him out of our airspace." Maintainers and pilots work 24 or 48-hour shifts to react 24/7 if the alarm sounds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman David Minor)

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Fertile Keynote

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Staff Sgt. Chad Walth, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and an F-16 crew chief, goes through his list of tools during alert exercise Fertile Keynote Nov. 19. The exercise was conducted by 20th Fighter Wing plans and inspections to prepare alert Airmen for an upcoming inspection by higher headquarters. Shaw's alert mission is part of Operation Noble Eagle, a quick-response operation that protects U.S. airspace, and supports significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman David Minor)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to initiate a "head butt" as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov. 19. A head butt is an action taken by the intercepting aircraft, after other communications like radio contact have failed, to redirect the intruder in the appropriate direction. According to Senior Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge, the F-16s are airborne within 7 minutes and 15 seconds of the alarm sounding, on average. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

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Fertile Keynote

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to attempt communication, as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov.19. The exercise tests the readiness of Shaw's 'round-the-clock alert mission, a part of Operation Noble Eagle. Noble Eagle provides quick-response support to defend U.S. airspace and covers major events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE S.C -- Maintainers at Shaw's alert facility discuss ways to improve their skills immediately after launching aircraft during exercise Fertile Keynote Nov.19. "We'll gather around and let each other know what we could improve on," said Staff Sgt. James Smeltzer, alert maintainer. "We discuss things like staying clear while flight controls are being tested." This type of feedback is something alert Airmen take pride in. "We have the best communication between maintenance and operations in this entire wing," said Senior Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman David Minor)

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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Matthew Feeman, an F-16 alert pilot from Shaw's 55th Fighter Squadron, approaches a Cessna airplane, flown by South Carolina's Civil Air Patrol, to attempt communication, as part of exercise Fertile Keynote Nov.19. Shaw's alert Airmen work 12 or 48-hour shifts to make sure the mission functions 'round the clock. "Holidays too," said Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I think if you talk to the folks, you'll find very few who are disgruntled." Airman First Class Andrew Norton doesn't have a problem with it. "Usually on holidays the colonels come by and drop off food," he said. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Cowley)

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Alert mission protects U.S. airspace, interests

Published Dec. 4, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Emily Chilson
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Shaw Airmen supporting the alert mission, from maintainers to pilots, standby 'round the clock in case they are needed.

The alert mission at Shaw is part of Operation Noble Eagle, which provides quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches.

"We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I want everything to be ingrained in them (the Airmen) so they can get the mission done."

Recently, the alert Airmen were tested by exercise Fertile Keynote. The exercise was conducted by 20th Fighter Wing plans and inspections to prepare for an upcoming inspection by higher headquarters. According to Sergeant Martin, the F-16s on alert are airborne within 7 minutes and 15 seconds of the alarm sounding, on average.

"Down here they (the pilots) train to intercept aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Andrew Norton, alert maintainer. "They'll launch a Civil Air Patrol aircraft from another base, and our pilots track him on radar to escort him out of our airspace."

From Security Forces, to maintenance, to operations, many units on Shaw contribute Airmen, equipment and aircraft to the alert facility.

"Security Forces protect alert assets 24/7," said Sergeant Martin. "They block off roads coming in and out of the alert area until the command post says it's okay to let people through."

Maintainers at Shaw's alert facility discuss ways to improve their skills immediately after launching aircraft.

"We'll gather around and let each other know what we could improve on," said Staff Sgt. James Smeltzer, alert maintainer. "We discuss things like staying clear while flight controls are being tested."

This type of feedback is something alert Airmen take pride in.

"We have the best communication between maintenance and operations in this entire wing," said Sergeant Martin.

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Fertile Keynote

Fertile Keynote