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FAST Airman completes first flight

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
  • U.S. AFCENT Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Two members of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron don their individual body armor and grab their weapons as the C-130 Hercules ramp opens. They exchange some last-minute instructions before deplaning and setting up their post outside the aircraft. These two individuals provide security for the passengers, cargo, aircrew and the aircraft itself in locations where security is not already built up for the air field.

Fly Away Security Team members "pull security on the plane. Whenever we land somewhere and there's no security built up on the base, we'll get off the plane and we'll post security around the plane for as long as they need us to," said Senior Airman Joseph Acosta, 332nd ESFS FAST member.

The flight with the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron carried more than 50 passengers, luggage and cargo to multiple locations throughout Iraq. The mission was Airman Acosta's first.

"It was pretty hot, I've got to say. It's my second time on a C-130, but it's my first time flying that much... It was a pretty bumpy ride," said Airman Acosta, a San Antonio native deployed from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. "(This) was my first mission... We provided security because there was no security for the base we landed. So we just came out of the plane, posted security for about 10 minutes and got back on. It was pretty fast."

Airman Acosta watched and learned from his more-experienced team member, Airman 1st Class Austin Forsythe, 332nd ESFS FAST member deployed from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. Airman Forsythe went over some of the basics of the aircraft, giving Airman Acosta a more in-depth view of how he can contribute to each mission on a C-130.

"This was my 13th mission or so, so I'm kind of familiar with the aircraft. The C-130 has a lot going on - from the locks to the way you strap things down. I showed (Airman Acosta) the basics of the locks, how they turn on the lights, how to put the seats up and put them back down," said Airman Forsythe, a native of Nashville, Tenn.

"Our security is just a small portion of what we really do. Any other time we're free, we help out the loadmasters as best as we can - just pushing on pallets, buckling up the passengers, showing them where to sit, strapping down luggage - anything (the aircrew asks) us to do," he said.

Though each FAST member goes through approximately 12 days of training on specifically C-130s, Airman Acosta recognized it was imperative to follow Airman Forsythe's lead and adhere to the guidance provided both assisting the C-130 loadmasters as well as on the ground providing security.

"We train for this, (and) I trusted my lead," Airman Acosta said. "He's been here for about a month and a half, and he's been doing the missions - already has a couple under his belt...so anything he said, I did."

Time and experience are two important factors that lead to becoming more comfortable with the aircraft. Just as when Airman Forsythe first started as a FAST member, it would take Airman Acosta a few missions to adjust to the change in responsibility, duties and pace, said the airman first class.

I finally got comfortable "on my fifth or sixth mission," said Airman Forsythe. "It's just a different world, different things going on... Every time we go out and I learn something new or meet new people. It's awesome. I enjoy it because it's a change of pace."

"I'm trying to learn something new every day and so far I have," he said. And it will likely be the same for Airman Acosta as he dives into his first six-month deployment as a FAST member.