1A8X2 career field named AFA Team of the Year

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  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operators will have bragging rights for the next year as the 1A8X2 career field was recently named the 2015 Air Force Association Team of the Year.

The award is presented annually to a single career field that exemplifies professionalism, technical expertise and leadership.

"I'm not surprised the 1A8X2 career field was selected for the award," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Evan Smith, 97th Intelligence Squadron commander, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. "Our operators are a dedicated team of professionals who give 100 percent every day, and I'm very proud of their accomplishments."

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Michael, a career airborne ISR operator and the 97th IS superintendent, says the career field is one of the most heavily tasked specialties in the Air Force.

Operators assigned to the 55th Wing often deploy to operating locations throughout the world where they perform specialized intelligence processing through the collection of electromagnetic signals. But intelligence collection is not the only function performed by wing members. Operators from the 55th Electronic Combat Group were also recognized for the significant contributions they made in 2014 through their electronic attack capabilities.

Michael said the career field was chosen in large part because of the capability they provide to combatant commanders and war fighters on the ground.

In 2014, special signals intelligence operators from the 55th Wing contributed 2,600 man-days in support of 740 [airborne missions] that produced 8,300 intelligence reports for five different combatant commands.

The wing has been deployed throughout the world in support of operations for nearly 25 years straight, which is believed to be the longest continuous deployment in the Air Force. Most 55th Wing aircrew members are deployed at the same rate as they are home.

"Everybody's just about on a one-to-one dwell - one day gone, one day home," Michael said. "Strenuous? Absolutely."

According to an article by the Air Force News Service, the 1A8X2 career field as a whole participated in 27,000 [airborne missions], supporting 850 operations in 2014. The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products produced by these missions contributed to the identification of 46,000 high-value targets.

Michael, who's worked as an airborne ISR operator for 21 years, says the career field is currently authorized manning levels at 150 percent due to the high demand for their expertise. He added that the demand for intelligence is continually evolving.

"We're very interested to see where the future of the [career field] ends up," Michael said. "The requirements are changing so fast."

The career field will be honored during a ceremony scheduled for May in Washington D.C.