These words were found in a scrapbooks and are so powerfully spoken as to the ideals and ambitions each and every Buzzard holds within him or her. The words are written by Commander Lt Col Gary "Gumby" West during Operation DELIBERATE FORCE.Probably one of the most fascinating things to watch is a three-man weapons load crew as they attempt to configure a fighter for combat. It is like watching symmetry in motion. I had the opportunity to watch one of my load teams in action during this month's load crew competition. Observing the team in action was like watching a well-groomed pit crew at Indy. Each person had a unique and vital role, often totally independent of each other yet coming together at precise moments where the task required unity in effort. I watched in amazement as these three young airmen meticulously performed a long list of well-timed tasks without being directed by anyone. What was obvious was these men had done this before, many times. The presence of inspectors looking over their shoulders seemed to go unnoticed as each of them turned total focus to each critical checklist item.
One member tested the continuity of the F-16s weapons pylon while another sat in the cockpit ensuring the fire control system sent the correct signal to each weapons point. The third person was busy by himself preparing the bombs for loading. All three people had one purpose, bombs on target, anytime, anywhere.
Their total attention was on one thing and one thing only, successful release and function of each weapon. There is no place for mistakes in this high stakes occupation, after all, their efforts might just well have the attention of millions of CNN viewers, the Pentagon, and yes even the President of the United States. Few others on this base will have their days' work come under such scrutiny. Few others could have such devastating consequences with one second of inattention.
As the three members converged to secure the last weapon to the jet I could not help wondering how these guys kept up this pace. What motivated them the many long nights when the realities of Bosnia forced them to lose weekends preparing my entire fleet for combat? Watching them gave me a better appreciation for how difficult this task was. Little did I know that while this team was finishing their load, under the required time, the situation in Bosnia was deteriorating again. That night I would have to ask my folks to come in and get my jets ready for combat ahead of schedule one more time. This would be the fourth time I would ruin a weekend, holiday, or post TDY reunion.
This would be the fourth time they would hear me tell them "this time we are really going to drop, for real." That night at 0100, I walked the ramp and watched the same symmetry in motion, only this time the ramp was busy with several load teams, crew chiefs, specialists and supervisors. I watched each one of them as they raced against the clock, again. No time for smoke breaks, no time to complain and feel sorry for themselves, only the uncertain fate of a fallen comrade somewhere in Bosnia driving them this time. Total focus of bombs on target, anytime. anywhere. Maybe this is it, this time. I could not help being proud.
Only three jets to go and our squadron would be ready. My pilots would be coming to work soon with their focus on the possible fate of a fallen warrior and how they would be employed in this difficult conflict. The pilots would greet their crewchiefs early in the morning and would give lime to no thought to how their F-16 was quickly transformed from a training configuration to one possessing such brutal lethality. Thus it should be, no one seeking special recognition, rather everyone contributing to bombs on target, on time. This kind of focus is what makes this Air Force the best in the world.
It does not matter if your occupation is slapping eggs on a plate each morning or reconciling travel vouchers in a frantic finance operation, we all are part of the sword. Whether we are the razor sharp blade, the handle, or the sheath that protects the edge when the sword is at rest, we all play an important part of the whole.
Every mission objective ought to be tailored from one unified theme, bombs on target, anytime, anywhere. "Anything else, is rubbish." Anything else brings confusion, distraction, and frustration. With this focus, everyone plays a part in making this a better, more efficient place to live and work. What we need is symmetry in motion from one end of the flight line to the end of areas one and two. This should be our purpose, our mandate. The realities of Aviano require nothing less.
