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***image1***1st Combat Communications Squadron Airmen can share with the 86th Operations Support Squadron in the success of a recent ‘outstanding’ rating in the Air Traffic System Evaluation Program inspection.
The primary mission of a 1st CBCS air traffic controller is to deploy with and support U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s mobile air traffic control assets.
However, three 1st CBCS controllers are working in 86th OSS facilities when not deployed in order to maintain proficiency.
These controllers are qualified and maintain proficiency in both tower and radar air traffic control operations at Ramstein. With a combined total of nine years of air traffic control duty at Ramstein, the 1st CBCS controllers participate in everything from training, supervision, controlling traffic, records maintenance, regulation verification and even fielding questions from ATSEP evaluators.
The agreement between 1st CBCS and the 86th OSS began in July of 2006 and is the first of its kind in USAFE. However, it had not truly been tested until the ATSEP evaluators came to Ramstein in September.
Allowing air traffic controllers assigned to another unit to obtain and maintain proficiency in a base facility is not an easy obstacle to overcome. There are the challenges of meeting the needs of two squadrons, crew rest, minimum monthly proficiency and ancillary training.
The program is being looked at as a benchmark for other similar programs in USAFE to allow controllers assigned to other MAJCOM-level functions, such as TERPS or combat airspace, to obtain and maintain proficiency.
In some cases certain assignments can slow career progression, especially the ones that require Airmen to work outside their primary Air Force specialty code. Due to the complex environment of air traffic controlling, a controller out of the operational career field requires hours of training to become familiar with new procedures and regulations.
1st CBCS and the 86th OSS have found a win-win solution to this issue with air traffic controllers: 1st CBCS controllers stay current on procedures and functions through consistent work in the base facilities and the 86th OSS gains nine extra years of experience and three extra controllers that can be counted on in a pinch.
