AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates -- Perhaps the thing that most opened Airman 1st Class Brent Sarte’s eyes to the big picture of the Air Force, was his flight to his first deployment, on board a KC-10 Extender.
“When you see it all come together and the aircraft is actually in the air, that helps you to connect all the pieces,” Sarte said.
Sarte serves as a squadron aviation resource manager, also known as a SARM, with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The native of Las Vegas, Nevada, has been in the Air Force about two years and is on his first deployment. His home station is Travis Air Force Base, California.
Sarte is one of two SARMS Airmen with the 908th, serving alongside Senior Airman Eric Fairly, a native of Vallejo, California, who is deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey.
Together, their job is to track all the administrative data related to the squadron’s flying personnel – how many hours are flown, ensuring all required qualifications are current and medical standards are being met.
“We’re one of the steps in the process that ensures our air crews are legal to fly,” explained Fairley. “Its like a waterfall – everybody has a step in the process to get the crew and the aircraft into the air.”
Fairley is currently on his second deployment in the 2 ½ years he has been an Air Force Airman. The first deployment was also to ADAB.
“I think the second time around is a little easier. I’m able to relax and enjoy it more,” he said.