Rivet Joint achieves 20-year milestone in AOR

Published Aug. 14, 2010
By Capt. Bryan Kloepper
379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The RC-135 V/W Rivet Joint from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and the patriots operating in the shadows behind it, have been continuously deployed and operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility for 20 consecutive years as of Monday.

In commemoration of this historic event, Aircraft 4135, which flew the second sortie in the AOR, was chosen to fly 20 years later here Monday.

Over the past 20 years, the operations and maintenance Airmen of the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here, and 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., have supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. They have also supported operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and other world-wide missions.

Most Americans were probably chained to the television 20 years ago, nervously and anxiously watching President Bush on news programs as a seemingly unexpected war against a formidable enemy unfolded. New terms like SCUD and Patriot missiles entered the daily vocabulary of many and hearts reached out for Americans who were leaving home for the first time since Vietnam to protect Americans' country, beliefs and way of life.

It was Aug. 2, 1990 when Sadaam Hussein initiated the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. U.S. and Coalition forces immediately sprang into action and six days later, on Aug. 8, an RC-135 aircraft flew the first sortie over the AOR from Hellenikon AB, Greece, and landed Aug. 9, at a deployed location in Saudi Arabia known as Riyadh Air Base.

Ronald Schott, a maintenance advisor with L-3 Communications, staff sergeant and lead airborne maintenance technician on the first aircraft into the AOR in 1990.

"On the way into the AOR, we performed every possible test and operational checkout of our collection and communications systems in order to ensure we had the best system possible for the upcoming mission," he said. "I distinctly remember the dust in the air at 30,000 feet; it didn't seem real."

He, and many others, made the impossible a reality as they performed and operated in unimaginable conditions. Many of us watched at home as they endured horrific temperatures and blinding sand storms while still generating mission-capable aircraft for continuous 24-hour coverage.

Today, 20 years later, the RC-135 and the servicemembers behind it are still in the AOR and still going strong.

The RC-135 is the 379th AEWs primary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform; picking up real-time information on our enemies.

"We have been thanked many times by the aircraft crews," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Browning, a lead jet engine specialist with the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "They said if we had not gotten the jet into the air when we did, we would not have collected info that saved a convoy or prevented an ambush."
763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Richard Rosa is on his 17th deployment to the AOR.

"As I have said many times before, a milestone like this is a total team effort ... while many things have changed, like the location, the lodging conditions, the areas we operate, one thing is the same ... our team of professionals is unsurpassed," Colonel Rosa said. "We have the best of the best when it comes to our people in both ops and maintenance. They always willingly go the extra mile and never fail to deliver when all the chips are on the table. It is truly an honor to be a part of such a remarkable achievement and I am humbled by the experience."

"The sheer fact that the mighty Rivet Joint has adapted consistently over all of these years to the ever-changing battle space speaks volumes to the professionals that support, maintain and operate it," said Brig. Gen. Randy Kee, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "The Rivet Joint is a premier platform in the 379th AEW. Day after day, month after month and year after year, a continuous rotation of people and aircraft provide absolutely seamless support to the warfighter."

After his first Operation Enduring Freedom RJ mission with the 763rd ERS, General Kee said he can now relay first-hand the dedication and tenaciousness of this team in prosecuting their tasks from a "mission first" spirit.

"Their intensity and professionalism throughout a nearly 17-hour duty was magnificent at a minimum," said General Kee. "Without question, I am honored to serve with professionals whose noble efforts directly correlate to lives saved on the ground each and every day."