SOUTHWEST ASIA -- If knowledge is power, then one unit here is among the most powerful organizations anywhere in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
The 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron uses the RC-135 Rivet Joint to support theater and national-level consumers with near real-time, on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination capabilities providing an "ear-to-the-street" capability to U.S. and coalition forces.
"We are essentially an intelligence collection and analysis asset. We collect signals intelligence primarily in support of [Operation Enduring Freedom]," said Capt. Todd Williams, 763rd ERS chief of weapons and tactics, who's deployed from Offut Air Force Base, Neb. "We soak up the information customers are looking for and send it out by any means necessary. Basically, we are looking for bad guys and pointing a finger at where they are."
He said the operations tempo requires the squadron to be manned 24-hours a day because of the number of requests for the RC-135.
"We definitely provide a lot of coverage, it just depends on the customer's needs, when they need us there and how long they need us there," the Amanda, Ohio, native said. "A lot of times, we get what we call adhoc taskings too; requests we receive from ground forces once we are in an area already."
He said the bottom line is the squadron receives more and more customers every day because someone in one unit passes along how valuable the information provided by the 763rd ERS is to another unit who eventually calls and requests an RC-135 as well.
"We will take all the requests because a lot of times you can support multiple missions at once," the captain said. "Sometimes We may or may not have to shift to support the adhoc. Since we are aerial refuelable, we can stay in the air as long as necessary. The more people learn about us, the more they want to use us. It's a constant tug-of-war between task forces to see who gets the RJ today."
The RC-135 is operated by an approximately 25-member crew composed of pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, cryptological operators, airborne systems engineers and intelligence officers, many of whom have deployed here multiple times.
"Obviously any time someone deploys to the same place as often as the Airmen of the 763rd do, you get better at what you're doing -- practice makes perfect," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Hodge, 763rd ERS operations superintendent. "Some of our fliers have in excess of 20 deployments here and eight or more is not considered unusual. And the correlation between time spent here and competence is easily seen in the results this squadron has produced for the theater over the last 19 years -- uniform excellence. These results are precisely why the secretary of defense keeps so many of our planes here."
In order to keep the Rivet Joint as current and effective as possible, three or four jets are always at a location in Texas being upgraded with new equipment or new software and then cycled into the AOR.
"One of the great things about our jet is it's constantly being upgraded and that's one of the biggest advantages we have," the captain said. "Our jet is constantly being upgraded so it can stay ahead of the fight because Enemy tactics change and we have to adapt. Basically those upgrades give us an edge."
He said one of the most unique parts of the Rivet Joint mission is it has been in the AOR for almost 20 years since it first arrived to support Operation Desert Shield in August, 1990.
According to historical documents maintained by the Offutt history office, the first RC-135 mission in theater was flown by Capt. Brian Janeway and his crew who arrived in theater Aug. 9, 1990 at Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Two days later, Rivet Joints began 24-hour coverage and since then it is estimated more than 50,000 hours have been flown in Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Northern and Southern Watch, and Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Chief Hodge said the reason for the 763rd ERS being able to complete its mission is the hard work and dedication from the Airmen assigned to the unit
"It goes without saying that the Airmen of the 763rd are both very motivated and dedicated to what they do every day and proud of the results they have achieved," he said. "The evidence to support this is readily found in the glowing feedback we receive every day from the Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen we support on the ground and in the air."