303rd Fighter Squadron A-10 pilots volunteer for range duty

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
  • 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Keeping Cannon Range operating at peak efficiency for its many customers is a meticulous job. As with any military operation, someone must be in charge. For the range, that "someone" is the range control officer (RCO), who assumes ultimate responsibility for ensuring range readiness and safety.

Both officers assigned to the range act as RCOs, but they can't do it alone, so the range has a "guest RCO" program. Two 442nd Fighter Wing pilots, including Capt. Mike Sadler, recently volunteered to be guest RCOs and, after going through an intense week-long training regimen, said they have learned that the job carries a huge responsibility.

Lt. Col Scott Porter, Cannon Range commander noted that having guest RCOs is a win-win situation for the guests and the range staff.

"It helps us keep the range open," he said. "Otherwise, we'd never take leave or temporary duty. We have to have the RCOs here. It gets them some time on the ground and they get that perspective. It enhances safety and understanding for the RCOs' unit and us.

"The big takeaway for the RCOs is that they have 100 percent responsibility and they have to treat every (aircraft) pass as if it's the one in a million that could have a catastrophic result."

"It's quite a responsibility knowing you're the guy," Capt. Sadler said. "If anything goes wrong, you have to deal with it. You're constantly on the lookout. In the tower, you have the benefit of listening to the radio, so you know what the pilots are going to do before they do it. You have to analyze everything to make sure it's legal. It gives you a little more respect for what the ground guys are seeing."

That's not to say Capt. Sadler is on his own when he is an RCO. He reliess on the experience of the range's enlisted Airmen.

"They are some of the greatest, hardest working guys I've ever met," Captain Sadler said. "I'm not just saying that. They offer us some great training and targets. You walk in there and it's impressive."

He noted that looking at things from the RCO's perspective has given him insights he didn't have before.

"Everybody likes watching the A-10s from the ground," Capt. Sadler said. "Getting to do that, I get to listen to how other people fly. I can listen to the pilots' tactics, to their plans, how they'll prosecute targets and how they deal with threats popping up."