Electronic Combat Squadron reaches 30,000 combat flight hours

Lt. Col. Arvid Opry, 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron commander, congratulates Maj. David Gonzalez, 41st EECS pilot, and his crew on the flightline on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 14, 2013. Gonzalez's crew flew the mission that gave the 41st EECS its 30,000 combat flight hour in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Electronic Combat Squadron reaches 30,000 combat flight hours

Staff Sgt. Carl Schmidt (in cockpit) and Senior Airman Bryan Perez, 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, prepare an EC-130H Compass Call for an engine test on the flightline on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 14, 2013. The 41st EECS recently reached 30,000 combat flight hours in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

'Compass Call'ing: Are you listening?

Senior Airman Whitni Orgass, 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron cryptological language analyst, works at her station aboard an EC-130 Compass Call aircraft on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, March 23, 2013. The 41st EECS flies nightly missions in support of troops on the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney)

Electronic Combat Squadron reaches 30,000 combat hours

Published April 14, 2013
By Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- On April 13th, the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron surpassed 30,000 combat flying hours in Afghanistan.

The 41st EECS flies the EC-130 Compass Call aircraft, which employs electronic attack for the purpose of denying, degrading and disrupting enemy communications.

"It's really a team effort," said Maj. David Gonzalez, 41st EECES pilot, "We've been doing this for nine years now ... we come out, we adapt and do what we're asked to do."

The 41st EECS first set up shop here in March 2004 with one aircraft. That number has increased in the intervening years, with all deploying from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"I don't think when we first came out here we expected to be out here as long as we have," said Lt. Col. Arvid Opry, 41st EECS commander, "it's a real testament to both our operators who continually deploy throughout the years and our maintainers who keep our aircraft fully mission-capable and ready."

Opry said that the squadron couldn't have reached this milestone without the efforts of their maintenance personnel.

"Even though 30,000 hours sounds like a lot ... for every hour that we're in the air, it's probably six to eight hours on the ground to get an aircraft inspected, fueled, serviced and checked out," he said. "Our maintenance team here has really done a great job."

Just like the flight crews, several of the maintainers have deployed multiple times.

"We're definitely proud," said Tech. Sgt. Cecil Minnis, 41st EECS lead hydraulic technician, who has deployed here three times.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Tomaszewski, 41st EECS air electrical and environmental craftsman, has deployed with the Compass Call seven times and recalls when the squadron first stood up here.

"It's time-consuming," he said of the maintenance tempo, "[but] everyone knows what their mission is so the aircrew can fly."

Opry said that in an age of tightening budgets, the 41st EECS gives the Air Force a bang for its buck.

"We're a pretty lean force out here," he said. "We minimize crew to mission-essential in a lot of shops. With today's limited resources, I think we're a pretty good value for the Air Force."

Opry concluded that each of the 30,000 combat hours is a success story for the 41st EECS.

"Everyone agrees it's a team effort."