91 ARS supports MacDill mission while remaining flexible

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nika Glover
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  While many Air Force jobs require Airmen to spend most of their time inside, in front of a computer, there are a few unique jobs where an Airman is expected to do his best work above the clouds soaring into the crisp blue skies. 

For members of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, this means spending the majority of their time on an aircraft doing special air missions, cargo transport, air refueling and aeromedical transportation. 

The unit's mission is to provide global aerial refueling, airlift and special assignment support for the United States and its allied forces. 

"We often deploy to various locations around the world in support of various operations and areas of responsibility, said Senior Airman Daniel Newcombe, 91 ARS boom operator. 

As an integral part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, members of the 91 ARS must be flexible and open to new adventures in order to support the wing's mission. Airmen must be able to fly daily air refueling sorties as part of this mission as well as for training and proficiency purposes. 

"At any given time, the 91 ARS will have several crews deployed to the AOR," said Airman Newcombe. "Crew members are in training classes, flying sorties from MacDill and occasionally crews are off station for aeromedical evacuations or coronets taking fighter aircraft to deployed locations around the world. 

As a boom operator, Airman Newcombe does many jobs in one. On any given day, he could be operating communications equipment, performing cargo loading duties, passenger monitor duties and operating air refueling equipment. 

They also work with MacDill's Air Terminal Operations Center when coordinating for cargo loading and the passenger terminal for release of space available seats allowing active duty, guard, reserve, dependents and retirees to travel for a very small fee. 

"During a typical day, the 91 flies between two to three training missions in order to properly train new aircrew members to perform the many missions of the KC-135R and meet the requirements of other aircrews to maintain mission readiness," said Captain Erick Turasz, 91st ARS chief of scheduling. "Along with flight training, aircrew members accomplish emergency procedure simulators, require ground training and maintain a working knowledge of flying regulations." 

He said currently the 91 ARS has four aircrews deployed to the AOR and two aircrews deployed to another location. At any time the unit's crews are on temporary duty leave to support receiver units around the globe. So, whenever a fighter or bomber squadron needs to be relocated, a tanker is there to ensure they have the sufficient fuel, he added. 

Captain Turasz's main role in the 91st ARS is that of an instructor aircraft commander. Along with being an instructor he is in charge of scheduling and squadron flight records. His job requires overseeing short range planning along with 11 other officers and enlisted personnel. 

"My favorite part of my job is interacting with other aircrew members and teaching new students different aspect of flying," said Captain Turasz. "I also enjoy the challenges and flexibility required to maximize training on the daily squadron flying schedule." 

In order to maintain that flexibility, members of the 91st ARS must work well together. 

"Teamwork and trust are probably the most important facets of my job. During air refueling, I place complete trust in the boom operator to be my eyes since he is the in-flight refueling specialist," Captain Turasz said. "As a crew, we are required to know everyone's job so that we can back each other up during critical phases of flight. 

"The main reason why we are still able to fly a 50 year old aircraft is because of the hard work and dedicated duty of our maintainers here at MacDill," he added.