JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Crew chiefs from the 7th Expeditionary Air Mobility Unit perform a foreign object damage walk prior to the aircraft taxiing in the runway June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. FOD, or foreign object damage, is a hazard for aircraft and other precision equipment. Suction caused by the air intake of jet engines can pull FOD into the aircraft and cause damage to the high-precision engines and other systems in the aircraft. FOD walks are performed to eliminate danger and problems to the aircraft taxiing down the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Master Sgt. Martin Siler, 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron joint surveillance target attack radar systems flight engineer, conducts a pre-flight inspection on an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems prior to takeoff June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. 7th EACCS aircrew and 7th Air Mobility Unit crew chiefs perform interior and exterior pre-flight inspections prior to every takeoff to ensure the safety of the crew flying and the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Staff Sgt. Balcerzak, 7th Air Mobility Unit crew chief, inspects the tires of an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems prior to aircrew arrival June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron and 7th AMU work alongside each other to check the aircraft for hazards, chalk the tires and ensure the pilots can exit the flight line safely. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Staff Sgt. Eddy, 7th Expeditionary Air Mobility Unit hydraulic specialist, annotates maintenance actions performed during an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems inspection prior to aircrew arrival June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. JSTARS fly daily at various times and average around 11 hours per flight to support operations on the war on terror. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems aircrew and 7th Expeditionary Air Mobility Unit maintenance Airmen conduct a post-flight maintenance debrief June 7, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The E-8C JSTARS and its active duty, guard and reserve service members conduct missions overseas to support operations on the war on terror. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems taxis down the runway after completing a mission June 7, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The JSTARS team flies 10 to 11 hours per mission to provide ground commanders with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as airborne command and control to boost force protection, defensive operations, over-watch and combat search and rescue missions throughout the area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems aircrew make their way to the E-8C JSTARS to prepare for departure June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. JSTARS aircrews provide support to both air and ground forces. The aircraft has the ability to track ground movement and provide command and control for airborne assets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

1st Lt. Cory Snyder, 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems navigator sets up computer systems in an E-8C JSTARS prior to takeoff June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. JSTARS aircrew report the information they collect to theater ground and air commanders to ensure coalition forces have real-time data in support of operations on the war on terror. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Maj. Daniel Hoak, 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems pilot, waves as he and his team taxi down the runway at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, after returning from a mission June 7, 2016. The E-8C JSTARS is a joint U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army program that detects, tracks and classifies moving ground vehicles in all conditions deep behind enemy lines by using a multi-mode side looking radar. The system evolved from Army and Air Force programs to develop, detect, locate and attack enemy armor at ranges beyond the forward area of troops. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Staff Sgt. Brashears, 7th Expeditionary Air Mobility Unit crew chief, directs an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems to its respective parking spot after completing a mission June 7, 2016. The JSTARS’ primary mission are to provide theater ground and air coalition commanders with ground surveillance and command and control to support attack operations and targeting that contributes to the delay, disruption and destruction of enemy forces. The aircraft is the only airborne platform in operation that can maintain real-time surveillance over a corps-sized area of the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

An E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System taxis down the runway after completing a mission June 7, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The E-8C JSTARS aircraft uses its communication and radar systems to support ground units and direct air support throughout the area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Airman 1st Class Strickland, 7th Air Mobility Unit crew chief, pushes back an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems into its respective parking spot after completing a mission June 7, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, using a “Uke” MB-2 Tow Tractor. The aircraft contains a radar and computer subsystems that can gather and display detailed battlefield information on ground forces and a robust communication suite, which allows it to execute command and control. It can also support the full spectrum of roles and missions ranging from peacekeeping operations to major theater war. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)

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JSTARS gives ground forces eyes

Published June 14, 2016
By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Crew chiefs from the 7th Expeditionary Air Mobility Unit perform a foreign object damage walk prior to the aircraft taxiing in the runway June 8, 2016, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. FOD, or foreign object damage, is a hazard for aircraft and other precision equipment. Suction caused by the air intake of jet engines can pull FOD into the aircraft and cause damage to the high-precision engines and other systems in the aircraft. FOD walks are performed to eliminate danger and problems to the aircraft taxiing down the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Janelle Patiño/Released)