What could you or your team to in 6 minutes and 43 seconds? Let me share about what one team does in that time.
This past weekend I attended the 140 WG Air Sovereignty Alert Building Ribbon Cutting at Buckley Air Force Base, HQ for the Colorado Air National Guard. A lot has changed since September 11, 2001 including our perception as the guard being "weekend warriors." Not any more, and that certainly holds true at Buckley.
The F-16's, the pilots that fly them and ground crews that keep them flying have to be on alert 24/7. The rules changed on 9/11. These crews now have a somewhat spartan, but new place to be at the ready working 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Akin to firefighters in a way. And when one crew is off, another crew is on alert. The quarters have sleeping, eating facilities and lounge areas right next to the F-16's they fly. The quarters replace trailers that were brought in after 9/11 to support this new mission. A much needed and deserved improvement in accommodations.
You've heard the stories about some plane flying where it's not supposed to, or passenger getting getting out of control on a flight. You also hear about fighters being "scrambled" to intercept the plane. It's part of the mission of the 140th.
Just in case.
There was the required ribbon cutting, but then we saw a demonstration of an alert scramble. When the klaxon sounded, crews headed to Ready Aircraft already fueled and armed. Pilots climbed aboard their aircraft in flight gear, ground crew members made final preps for flight including arming weapons systems. We then heard the sounds of jet engines coming to life and shortly thereafter aircraft taxiing for takeoff.
When it comes to keeping our skies safe, efficiency is critical. From the initial alert signal to the F-16's taxiing out to the runway for takeoff it all took 6 minutes and 43 seconds.
The crews we watched, and crews like them all over the country have our back just in case the bad guys try something again. They'll do it in just minutes from learning about the threat.
One more thing, that alert building has a number, as do all military buildings.
It's #911.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"
This past weekend I attended the 140 WG Air Sovereignty Alert Building Ribbon Cutting at Buckley Air Force Base, HQ for the Colorado Air National Guard. A lot has changed since September 11, 2001 including our perception as the guard being "weekend warriors." Not any more, and that certainly holds true at Buckley.
The F-16's, the pilots that fly them and ground crews that keep them flying have to be on alert 24/7. The rules changed on 9/11. These crews now have a somewhat spartan, but new place to be at the ready working 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Akin to firefighters in a way. And when one crew is off, another crew is on alert. The quarters have sleeping, eating facilities and lounge areas right next to the F-16's they fly. The quarters replace trailers that were brought in after 9/11 to support this new mission. A much needed and deserved improvement in accommodations.
You've heard the stories about some plane flying where it's not supposed to, or passenger getting getting out of control on a flight. You also hear about fighters being "scrambled" to intercept the plane. It's part of the mission of the 140th.
Just in case.
There was the required ribbon cutting, but then we saw a demonstration of an alert scramble. When the klaxon sounded, crews headed to Ready Aircraft already fueled and armed. Pilots climbed aboard their aircraft in flight gear, ground crew members made final preps for flight including arming weapons systems. We then heard the sounds of jet engines coming to life and shortly thereafter aircraft taxiing for takeoff.
When it comes to keeping our skies safe, efficiency is critical. From the initial alert signal to the F-16's taxiing out to the runway for takeoff it all took 6 minutes and 43 seconds.
The crews we watched, and crews like them all over the country have our back just in case the bad guys try something again. They'll do it in just minutes from learning about the threat.
One more thing, that alert building has a number, as do all military buildings.
It's #911.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"
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