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FEATURE: KC-10 boom operator, Pine Bluff native, supports air refueling ops in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  As an in-flight refueling technician, otherwise known as a boom operator, Senior Airman Larry Cawley Jr. would probably tell you that on every combat air refueling mission it's just a matter of someone "driving him to work" in the KC-10 Extender.

Deployed with the 908th Air Refueling Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia, Airman Cawley works in the only deployed KC-10 unit in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. As a boom operator, he supports a mission that in 2009 hit unprecedented heights. During that time, the 908th EARS flew 4,760 combat air refueling missions offloading more than 422 million gallons of fuel to more than 31,400 aircraft.

To keep that kind of pace throughout a year, Airman Cawley said the unit and everyone in it has to be at their best for every mission. The two-and-a-half-year veteran of the Air Force described what he does on every mission through air refueling.

"I enable multiple types of coalition aircraft, including fighters and bombers, to support the troops on the ground for extended periods of time through our air refueling capability," said Airman Cawley, who is deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "This ensures that numerous missions on the ground and in the air are completed successfully. Other planes fly up behind us at distances shorter than 30 feet and it's my job to refuel them safely by maneuvering the boom into their receptacle and transferring fuel from our tanker aircraft to theirs. It's great job."

To be a boom operator, Airman Cawley has to maintain a high number of skills. In addition to performing in-flight refueling aircrew duties, he also has to perform visual and operational checks of air refueling and associated systems and equipment. He also completes pre-flight, through-flight, and post-flight inspections; and accomplishes pre-flight and post-flight records and reports, according to his official Air Force job description.

"I excel in my duties because I understand I play a critical role in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility," Airman Cawley said. "If for any reason we can't support another aircraft, you know it could possibly cause negative results. This is what pushes all crewmembers of the KC-10 to look past ourselves and to focus on the mission as a whole."

Airman Cawley also has to perform in-flight operational checks of the air refueling systems, direct receiver aircraft into air refueling position and operates in-flight boom controls and switches to safely affect contact between tanker and receiver aircraft, his job description states. In that role, he monitors the control panel for proper operation of equipment during air refueling, and advises the receiver pilot of actions required to safely maintain position within the air refueling envelope.

The senior airman said he is proud to be able to support the war effort through his job. He added that without air refueling, the rate of success would certainly be different.

"Short of the troops serving on the ground, air refueling is one of the most important jobs in the deployed areas simply because we enable all of the close-range air support for troops in contact with the enemy on the ground," said Airman Cawley, whose hometown is Pine Bluff, Ark. "We support refueling for countless fighter aircraft. Instead of those fighters having to land to refuel, we provide them with the fuel they need to continuously support the warfighters on the ground. That's where the true reward of this job comes into play - when we know we directly have an effect on saving lives on the ground."

Airman Cawley said joining the military has helped him to appreciate many things.

"I joined the military as a means of bettering myself mentally and physically and as a means to have an active hand in fighting for the freedoms we all enjoy today," Airman Cawley said. "The deployed environment is a tough one, but it's the mission that we all prepare for and we execute it flawlessly. There are hard times in this job just like there are with any other occupation, civilian or military, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

The 908th EARS is a part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance, and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.