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New facility improves alert Airmen's quality of life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Shaw's new alert facility offers improvements for increased quality of life for the Airmen assigned to the air sovereignty alert mission.

The ASA mission is a 24/7, 365-days-a-year mission, and the maintainers and pilots are always ready to scramble out to the jets and get them up in the air as fast as possible to intercept anything suspicious in the skies of the eastern air defense sector.

Currently, the ASA maintenance Airmen work 56-hour shifts, said Master Sgt. William Martin, 20th FW ASA chief enlisted manager. They are on alert for 48 hours straight, ready to go at a moment's notice, followed by 8 hours of group training. During their alert shift they cannot leave the alert facility at all. After their shift, the maintenance Airmen receive three days off for recuperation time.

The ASA pilots have one week on alert, then one week at their job and they perform 24-hour shifts during their alert week, added Capt. Joseph Palen, 20th Fighter Wing ASA assistant director of operations. Two pilots switch shifts throughout the week. While on alert, pilots continually wear their flight gear, minus the helmet, to save the minutes it would take to don the gear.

"While you are on shift, the alert facility is basically your house for a while," Captain Palen commented.

To accommodate the ASA Airmen, the captain said the new alert facility has: a full kitchen in case the Airmen on shift want to cook and prepare a meal including silverware and dishes; a full gym in order to maintain fit-to-fight standards; private quarters with a bed and storage; showers and bathrooms; two media rooms to watch television and relax; as well as computers and telephones to keep up on e-mail and conversations with loved ones.

"Sometimes Airmen bring in groceries for their shift, and once in a while, we barbeque as a team," Captain Palen noted.

Overall, the ASA Airmen are pleased with the facility updates.

"I am fairly new to the alert job, but I've heard this facility is bigger and better in every way," remarked Staff Sgt. Kelly Sherrer, 20th FW ASA dedicated crew chief. "What I like best about the new facility is the gym area. It's not as big as the base gym, but is has just about everything you need to stay fit to fight." 

While some Airmen might not like working 56-hour shifts, there was no grumbling or complaining heard around the facility.

"I like being a part of the alert because I really get to know the people that I work with and we all get to become a real team," declared Sergeant Sherrer. "Also, it's good to know you're flying real (intercept) missions if that bell (and loudspeaker) goes off."

Senior Airman Justin Slater, 20th FW ASA crew chief, agreed. "I absolutely enjoy being part of the alert facility team because there is a great sense of pride knowing that at any moment we can have these jets up in the air protecting our east coast," he pointed out. "We have a great crew and we all have good attitudes."

"I know that at anytime, day or night, we are ready to run and get jets up in the air," Sergeant Sherrer said. "During my shift, I'm always on edge, but the new facility has met my needs for anything I might need, from the fully equipped kitchen to the common areas where you can just relax after the workday is over. It's very nice."