Patrolling the sky

Published Nov. 11, 2008
By SPC Brandon Sandefur
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, PAO

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- There are thousands of Soldiers serving in Afghanistan in the war on terror. These Soldiers perform many different jobs, but each one is important to the overall mission. From the infantry Soldiers patrolling on the ground to the pilots dominating the sky and everything between, they are all part of the same team. One of these team members is 19-year-old Pvt. Ryan Masterson from McHenry, Ill., an aviation operations specialist for the Air Defense and Airspace Management Cell.

"We track the airspace for our brigade's area of operations and get real-time video feeds of what's going on with our airspace. It gives us a better idea of where each aircraft is and what they are doing so we can track everything a lot better," said Masterson, detailing some of the daily tasks he performs for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division's ADAM Cell.

Masterson, who has been in the Army a little more than two years, coordinates air support with troops on the ground via radio and phone systems. He coordinates through a liaison officer to find out what exactly the Soldiers on the ground need, whether it's air support, supplies or reconnaissance flights from unmanned aerial vehicles.

"We make sure that the infantry Soldiers have whatever they need as far as air support. We make sure they have Apaches, Kiowa warriors and we also make sure that they're getting Chinooks for their supplies, food, water and everything like that," Masterson said, explaining how he helps infantry Soldiers get the air support they need if they are receiving enemy contact.

Masterson rarely has a free moment while working in the shelter or inside the tactical operations center, but he said he finds the job very rewarding. With his limited free time he likes to watch movies, go to the gym and talk to his family on the internet.

When free-time is over, Masterson is all-business and feels good about what he does.

"It's good to know that you played a role in winning a battle or helping Soldiers by getting them the air support or supplies they needed," Masterson said. "I think it's a good feeling to know that I may have helped some Soldiers and possibly save some lives by getting them what they needed as fast as I could."

Masterson plays an important roll in the majority of operations that required air assets, which considering Afghanistan's terrain is almost every operation.

"[Masterson] is very important to the ADAM Cell and continues to improve on a daily basis. He's tactically and technically proficient at his job," said Masterson's supervisor, Staff Sgt. Simeon Burns, from Oakland, Calif.

Masterson wants to pursue a career in law enforcement when his military service is finished, but for now he's part of a team that controls the skies over Afghanistan.