ROCK SOLID WARRIOR Published April 6, 2009 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Chris Blas Job: EC-130 Compass Call flight engineer Home unit: 41st Electronic Combat Squadron Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. How do you support the mission here? As an EC-130 aircrew member, I am part of a team that provides non-kinetic support to over 165,000 ground troops with electronic attack capabilities How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? I've been deployed more times than I can remember. I was previously a KC-135 aircraft maintenance technician, and approximately two years ago I cross trained to be an EC-130 flight engineer. This is the first deployment in my new job, and the difference is night and day! I'm in a new location performing a new job, with greater responsibilities that require me to be at my best level of performance at all times! How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? At home we tend to spend a lot of time focusing on training that falls in two parts; one allows us to train as aviators in the basic role to increase our flying proficiency and build crew coordination, while the other provides us with the opportunity to train for what we'll be doing as combat aviators at any deployed location. While deployed there's no more training, there's no more practicing: It's the real deal!