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Behind the Scenes: Poinsett Electronic Combat Range

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Editor's Note: This is part three of a year-long series on members of the 20th Fighter Wing leadership shadowing Team Shaw Airmen and the community, spending a day walking in their shoes, learning and experiencing Airmen's jobs. If any members of the 20th FW have a job idea for future 'Behind the Scenes' shadowing opportunities, please contact 20th FW Public Affairs at (803) 895-2019

Building relationships with Shaw Air Force Base's surrounding community is not only beneficial to the community but to the base as well. One such relationship is at the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, Wedgefield, South Carolina where Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander, received a tour of the location where Shaw pilots and Airmen from various career fields across the 20th FW train and build working community partnerships.

Jost recently implemented a "Behind the Scenes" shadowing program for members of wing leadership to experience first-hand the mission of the 20th FW and toured Poinsett Range March 5, as part of the program.

Through the program and emphasis on Jost's "Four C's," combat readiness, compliance, community, and core values, leaders are able to experience the impact of Airmen and community partnerships across the wing.

"We are getting into the nooks and crannies of the wing and our community," Jost said. "(BTS) has given me the opportunity to say thank you to those who do thankless work, but work that directly ties into executing our mission."

Poinsett fulfills a major role in providing electronic combat training for a number of Department of Defense aircraft that uses munitions by tracking targets hit through a variety of electronic equipment such as microphones, cameras, and a computer targeting system.

As an F-16 CJ Fighting Falcon pilot, Jost uses Poinsett Electronic Combat Range frequently during training missions.

"I picked Poinsett to be part of the Behind the Scenes series because knowing the capabilities of this range and what I've already used as a pilot," said Jost, "I believe it's important to see how the people operate the range and how they directly support our wing's mission."

Jost began his visit with the Poinsett civil engineer Airmen and learned their responsibilities, which include taking care of the land and wildlife. He received a location tour where he was able to see the range from a perspective other than aerial. On his tour he also learned about the operations on the range to keep it mission-ready, which include the personnel who make it possible for Shaw and DOD pilots to train and the electronic warfare personnel who create realistic simulated training for pilots.

The range is used by U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, South Carolina Air National Guard, South Carolina Army National Guard, and North Carolina Army National Guard for training to include air-to-ground bombing and gunnery, and electronic countermeasures.

Poinsett provides a unique training with its forest that allows pilots to track hidden targets. Additionally, Airmen and military members have the opportunity to practice survival and navigation training, which prepares them for real-world encounters, said Ronnie June, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resource manager.

During the visit, June highlighted to Jost how the 12,500 acre range is not only used for training missions but for wildlife and natural resource preservation as well.

"In order to sustain the land and wildlife," said June, "there are many things that need to continuously be done. As a collaborative effort from Shaw's Airmen, local fire departments, and the members at Poinsett, we protect the natural resources by cutting and planting trees ensuring the wildlife is undisturbed. According to the Sikes Act and Endangered Species Act, we sustain and protect the natural resources and endangered species to include the Red-cockaded Woodpecker."

Working together, Airmen and their civilian counterparts at Poinsett ensure the mission is complete simultaneously caring for the ecosystem.

"Since starting the BTS series the feedback has been nothing but positive," said Jost. "There has been a boost in morale, because folks realized I want to be out here and walk in people's shoes, I really want to see what they do and what their challenges are. I want to know where I can help and I want to have some fun too, because if people see that, they'll realize they can have fun doing their job as well and be fired up to come to work. Telling their stories through the BTS in the paper and through videos will hopefully help people to understand that we genuinely care about what they do for the base and the community."