Backtalk: Sensor operators finally rewarded

[CommunityEditor]

Once in awhile the Air Force does something right.

On Oct. 2, the service announced the enhanced stature of enlisted sensor operators in the unmanned aerial vehicle community.

For too long, the sensor operator who sits beside a pilot in the “box,” the ground-based crew compartment that controls the flight of a UAV, has been treated as a second-class citizen.

The treatment was wrong when you compared a sensor operator with the pilot operating the same UAV. It was also wrong when you compared a sensor operator with other kinds of enlisted crew members, such as flight engineers and loadmasters.

Now, enlisted airmen working as sensor operators for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper will be designated as career enlisted aviators. They’ll qualify for incentives received by other enlisted aviators. They’ll receive flight pay and wear enlisted aircrew wings.

“This is a victory for enlisted airmen,” said Chief Master Sgt. Steve J. Hanson of the 214th Reconnaissance Group, a component of the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson.

“The Air Force intent is to develop a professional, sustainable population of unmanned aerial system airmen as part of viable career fields that include equitable opportunities for promotion, developmental education, leadership and command,” Maj. Gen. Darrell Jones said in a statement.

The change in the status of enlisted UAV crew members is part of a larger change that also will foster pilots trained exclusively to fly UAVs. A pilot can be in the “box” rather than in the sky and still be deemed a “rated officer” and receive flight pay.

Until this change, working in the UAV career field — the term “unmanned aerial system” is also used — was a passport to a second-class career. It took the Air Force far too long to realize that a sensor operator and a loadmaster ought to be paid the same and given the same prospects for advancement.

UAVs perform important duties. That’s why recognition for their crews is long overdue.

For now, the service has taken a step in the right direction. It’s a big step, one that many didn’t expect.

Air Force leaders deserve credit for making it.


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/communi...sensor_101909/

[Gunner7]

On Oct. 2, the service announced the enhanced stature of enlisted sensor operators in the unmanned aerial vehicle community.


The treatment was wrong when you compared a sensor operator with the pilot operating the same UAV. It was also wrong when you compared a sensor operator with other kinds of enlisted crew members, such as flight engineers and loadmasters.

Now, enlisted airmen working as sensor operators for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper will be designated as career enlisted aviators. They’ll qualify for incentives received by other enlisted aviators. They’ll receive flight pay and wear enlisted aircrew wings.
“This is a victory for enlisted airmen,” said Chief Master Sgt. Steve J. Hanson of the 214th Reconnaissance Group, a component of the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson.

“The Air Force intent is to develop a professional, sustainable population of unmanned aerial system airmen as part of viable career fields that include equitable opportunities for promotion, developmental education, leadership and command,” Maj. Gen. Darrell Jones said in a statement.

The change in the status of enlisted UAV crew members is part of a larger change that also will foster pilots trained exclusively to fly UAVs. A pilot can be in the “box” rather than in the sky and still be deemed a “rated officer” and receive flight pay.

Until this change, working in the UAV career field — the term “unmanned aerial system” is also used — was a passport to a second-class career. It took the Air Force far too long to realize that a sensor operator and a loadmaster ought to be paid the same and given the same prospects for advancement.

UAVs perform important duties. That’s why recognition for their crews is long overdue.



Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/communi...sensor_101909/[/quote]

I admire the work our Airmen and NCOs are doing in the UAS community. I do not agree with some of the information in this article. The Air Force has not decided to give members of the UAS SO (1U0XX) AFS Flight Pay. Compensation for UAS duty has not been finalized and the UAS SO wings are similar to, but not the same as the Career Enlisted Aviators. A fundamental difference is the ability and willingness of Aviators to take to the skies and go in harms way to accomplish the mission. Notice I am not taking anything away from the great work the SOs are doing. When an enlisted member decides to pursue a career in Aircrew Operations, they must sign a "volunteer for flying statement". They acknowledge the increased opstempo and risk make the duty different than others. When they complete advanced flight training they remain available for assignment to a flying position throughout their career. I remember watching some of my fellow crewmembers remove their wedding rings, pictures, and personal effects before a combat mission. As we stepped to the plane they were aware of the possibility that these could be their last steps on earth. They have gone and will go into the fray because they choose to. How they are dressed, paid, and promoted is the responsibility of leadership. I think leadership is looking for a way to make a tough duty more appealing in the same way they put missile folks in flight suits and threw the word "combat" in all titles. In the end if this is what it takes to support the guys on the ground then so be it.

[Pavehawk55]

Gunner7 is right on a couple of items. There is no final decision on compensation pay and UAS Sensor Operators will not wear CEA wings. Instead they will be awarded specific UAS wings that closely resemble CEA wings.

Where Gunner7 is wrong is that CEFIP is not awarded to CEA's due to the dangers of flying. CEFIP is awarded as a "professional aviator" pay which is why CEA's on staff duty and other non-flying activities still recieve their CEFIP.

UAS Sensor Operators deserve professional aviator pay that is equivalent to CEFIP. They perform every duty associated with aviation except the actual leaving the ground part. They followthe AFI 11 series, get checkrides, log currencies, give blood/urine on mishaps, etc. They are fully involved in the stack over a target, perform all the duties associated with aircraft movement/seperation in congested airspace and hand fly precision guided munitions to the bad guys location. During that entire time the UAS pilot is receiving flight pay and gate month credit while the guy actually accomplishing the mission get nothing. Worse yet, the new Beta Pilot program is guys that are not going through the traditional pilot training program(they don't even have a private pilots license), and these folks are going to receive flight pay.

These guys take to the fight to the enemy and strategically remove the bad guys from the fight. We have all seen the youtube videos of Predators shooting a hellfire at bad guys planting IED's, but what you will never see is the thousands of hours spent tracking down the IED facilitators and every bad guy in the command structure on up the chain.

I flew Pavehawks for over a dozen years before I volunteered for UAS duty for "career broadening". We created such an insatiable demand for Pred-porn that we cannot get back to our previous airframes. I know how I felt about UAS opertors when I was flying helicopters, but after seeing the impact we make on a daily basis and the skills required to make it happen, "CEA like" status is totally justifiable. No, I didn't just drink the Kool-aid, spend a day taking a tour at a UAS control center and you will understand also.