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Unsung heroes - 24/7/365

  • Published
  • By Col. Al Hunt
  • 375th Airflift Wing commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  As we celebrate the holidays with parties, gifts, and feasts, the U.S. military will remain postured to ensure we have the opportunity to do so in a safe and secure environment around the clock

For thousands in the U.S. Armed Forces at home and abroad, there is little or no break for the holidays. Christmas and New Years are two more days to answer our nation's calling, a day closer to winning the Global War on Terror. Today, over 450 members of Joint Total Force Scott are deployed around the world, supporting and defending this nation, often in harms way and away from family and friends. It's a reminder that once we take the oath to serve the nation, the mission must and will continue.

Often during this time of year, we focus primarily on deployed servicemembers and their families. People across the country send messages and care packages to the troops abroad. In addition, our own Airman and Family Readiness Center hosts holiday celebrations for the families of deployed servicemembers.

While we cannot understate our appreciation for the sacrifices of those who are deployed during the holidays as well as those of their families, we must also take time to recognize the hundreds of servicemembers, government employees, and contractors at Scott Air Force Base who will be hard at work this time of year. Operations and ops support personnel in U.S. Transportation Command's (USTC) Deployment Distribution and Operations Center (DDOC) as well as personnel in the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) will work around the clock to plan and oversee transportation missions worldwide, ensuring critical assets reach their destination without a hitch. The men and women of the 15th Operational Weather Squadron (OWS) will also work diligently, predicting weather phenomena potentially impacting mission execution. The Mobility Air Force Logistics Support Center (MAF LSC) will also be hard at work ensuring parts availability for mobility aircraft worldwide. Furthermore, the 375th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) will maintain constant watch from the air traffic control tower while the medical experts from the 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (EAES) and 375th Aeromedical Staging Facility will support the beddown and onward movement of injured troops returning from the Global War on Terror. Family practice residents will also be working with JTF Scott inpatients at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville. Scott's ambulance services personnel will also be working 24/7 through the holidays.

On the communications front, our joint partners from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) CONUS will remain at the console to ensure uninterrupted communications capability along with some great men and women in the 375th Communications Group as well as Det 3, 561st Network Operations Squadron .

Mission support will continue unhampered with Airmen in the 375th Security Forces Squadron along with numerous augmentees from the total force, on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, protecting our base perimeters, facilities, and personnel. The Command Post and Fire Department will also be on duty during the upcoming holidays, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Rounding out the list are personnel from the 375th Services Squadron (SVS) and the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) who will ensure billeting and the dining hall as well as fuels and vehicle ops respectively continue to support our mission.

In addition to all those on shift, the rest of the JTF Scott professionals will all be ready to respond if the call comes. If I failed to mention other units who will be working over the holidays, please accept my apologies in advance if this is the case. Your efforts are also appreciated!

As we prepare to take well-deserved time off in the coming weeks, we should thank the unsung heroes who will put the holidays aside to ensure mission success. We appreciate all the great things JTF Scott personnel do everyday. We couldn't do it without the awesome teamwork. Happy holidays!