603rd ACS garners USAFE Commander's Trophy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The 603rd Air Combat Control Squadron received some exciting news recently as it was selected as the 2008 U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander's Trophy recipient in the "Support to a Fying Squadron" category.

The unit, which consists of 239 military members, three civilians and one contractor, is a mobile unit capable of providing radar control and surveillance within a designated area, to collect, display, and disseminate information on aerial activity and to provide radar coverage for the control of air forces. Unit members also provide radar control for friendly aircraft in an offensive role against ground targets, and in a defensive role against airborne threats.

"One of the best chief master sergeants I have had the honor of working with once provided me with a quote from a former Super bowl winning coach, Chuck Knoll that I think applies here," said Lt. Col. Matthew Smith, 603rd ACS commander. "'Champions are champions not because they do anything extraordinary, but because they do the ordinary things better than anyone else.' By no means are we (the 603rd ACS) perfect, but this philosophy is something we have really worked hard to embrace in this squadron.

"Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in focusing on so many things that the little things, the smaller tasks, fall off the plate and don't get completed the way they should. We emphasize that the most important task, project, TDY or event is the one you are executing or involved in right now. Do it to the absolute best of your ability and the end result will be favorable to you and the unit."

During 2008, the 603rd ACS supported more than 13,600 Operation Enduring Freedom sorties and provided air surveillance in defense of six Arabian Gulf nations, totaling more than 377,000 square miles as well as supported more than 250 in-garrison training sorties totaling over 10,000 positional hours.

Chief Master Sgt. Bobby Booten, 603rd ACS maintenance superintendent, has been with the unit since October 2004 and said part of what makes the 603rd ACS so efficient is the diversity of Air Force specialties it possesses.

"We have the opportunity to work with 23 different AFSCs to include vehicle maintainers; power production; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; supply; medical; security forces; communications; and operators," he said. "Our Airmen from across the Air Force allow the 603rd to deploy anywhere, anytime and build a self sufficient site within a matter of days. With this diverse team and working together on any task, makes this squadron so enjoyable. Our tip-of-the-spear mobility capabilities make a direct operational impact."

During 2008, the 603rd ACS supported eight-month, back-to-back OEF deployments all while preparing the 510th and 555th Fighter Squadrons for the global war on terror, assuring the Combined Forces Air Component Commander 100 percent air battle management capability, which protected six nations across 377,000 square nautical miles and $10 billion in 379th Air Expeditionary Wing assets.

The unit also supported two 31st FW weapons/flying training deployments enabling the 510th and 555th FS' to generate 250 sorties and drop 129,000 pounds of ammo with a 97 percent mission completion rate.

Another 603rd ACS noteworthy accomplishment was its employment of a tactical radar, whose data links enabled command and control in support of five U.S. Presidential trips that included 15 movements to 12 countries and three continents.

The unit was also on-time and under budget in support of U.S. President's seven-day, five-nation African visit, streamlining 137 mobility increments to 55 and 24 C-17s down to seven.

Chief Booten added that the 603rd ACS provided persistent tactical battle management and command and control presence in theater for 12 months.

"We achieved historic and enduring combat results in OEF to include 1,323 troops-in-contact, 11 high value target strikes and 10 Taliban commanders killed in action/detained which directly resulted in 820 enemy killed kills in action," he said.

The Scorpions also enabled 8,800 combat missions and 7,200 casualty/medical evacuation recoveries.

"The Scorpions are truly an impressive Team of Airmen and civilians," said Colonel Smith. "Our diversity of specialties helps tremendously in accomplishing our mission whether here in garrison supporting the 31st FW or while deployed in support of another combatant commander or the POTUS. Each work center brings a unique perspective and capability and all of them perform admirably. They also understand that they are part of something much bigger than themselves. I couldn't be more impressed."