Welcome to the Space & Missile AFSC discussion blog. The purpose of this blog is to foster discussion between future Air Force officers interested in the Space & Missile career field and current officers in Space. The views expressed in this blog are solely the opinions of the individual authors and not of the United States Air Force nor the Department of Defense.
I think it's an exciting time to be a space operator! I currently work alongside 13s as a 62 out at the 2nd Space Ops Squadron (GPS). There is opportunity to cross-flow between the 6X career fields and the 13 career fields. There is a big push to develop a "space cadre" that have experience in ops and acquisitions. I think this will continue to grow in importance as more nations gain space assets. There is a wide variety of space operator positions as a 62 and a 13. While this section is entitled a "day in the life" I want to highlight the opportunity within just one assignment. My first assignment was at LA AFB and my jobs varied quite a bit. In this one assignment I had the opportunity to work as a Delta II Propulsion Engineer (launching GPS and space experiment satellites), Executive Officer (support the commander for the heritage launch vehicle programs), Chief of Milstar Flight Ops (deploy two Milstar satellites and manage a multi-million dollar on-orbit support contract). As a junior officer, there are definitely great leadership opportunities out there to go after!
While there are a variety of positions within space operations I can speak to where I am currently now, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (GPS). As an engineer, I work in the analysis flight and supervise 62s and 13s. While only 13s are certified to sit on crew, the 62s are still responsible for the same level of knowledge (its a different certification process) since they will conduct the same types of ops, just not as an official "crewmember." As a new 13 in 2SOPS, you'll be coded as either a vehicle advanced operator or a payload advanced operator. You'll go through your crew certification and be part of the 24/7 team responsible for accomplishing the daily support requirements necessary to sustain the GPS constellation. This requires a thorough knowledge of spacecraft systems and emergency procedures. You will be the first line of defense to deal with any anomolous spacecraft issues...it really is a lot of responsibility for a brand new Lt, especially when you understand the far reaching civil and military impacts of GPS. From crew, you can move to the analysis flight (deals with constellation planning and atypcial operations), go to weapons and tactics (exploring new capabilities), move to stan/eval or become an instructor (group positions). As a 62, you will most likely come right to the Analysis Flight for training and certification as an on-call analyst/engineer or work in weapons and tactics. What I've written is just a taste of what's out here in GPS...it is a really dynamic and cutting-edge squadron!
Stealth Cadet - I already posted this on another thread, but I think it fits here as well.
The way it worked when I was on crew was something like this: I would get up, get ready, and go to base for a "Mission Planning" briefing. This was a briefing with only your squadron members going out to the field that day. Immediately after that, we had another briefing called "Pre D" or Pre Deployment. This was with everyone going out to the field that day. After Pre D, we would go to our trucks and drive out to the field. Once at our predetermined location, we would change over with the next crew, and then spend 24 hrs in the capsule. The next morning, you wait till your relief crew comes out and changes over with you, and then you go home.
Here is where things can get a little messy. Depending on what kind of additional duties you have you can either go home for the rest of the day, or you could be in the office after you get home from alert working on whatever it is you need to do. Now, the day after you get off of alert you either have totally off (you don’t come in to work), or more likely, you have some kind of training.
Missileers are required to have 3 different training days a month, along with taking 3 different written exams a month, EVERY MONTH; sometimes more depending on whether or not there is an inspection going on. The day after your training day, you go back out on alert, and start the process all over again. 8 times a month. Being a missileer is a constant cycle of alerts and training. And everything I just described happens if you are just a basic line crew member. If you are a trainer or evaluator, you work in an office 5 days a week, and then go on alert on the weekend (not every weekend, just most).
NOW, having told you all that, the Missile alert schedule is undergoing a change. The missile squadrons are moving from a 24 hr alert schedule, to a 3 day alert schedule. Things would work a little differently than before. Instead of two people to a site, you would have 3 people, with one person living topside for 12 hrs at a time to work issues, train, workout, shower, etc. Instead of pulling eight 24 hr alerts a month, you would pull 6 – 3 day alerts.
The 3 day alert schedule is not set in stone as far as I know, but I wanted to give you a heads up in case it changes by the time you get there.
I am a private loan lender which have all take to be a genuine lender i give out the best loan to my client at a very convenient rate.The interest rate of this loan is 3%.i give out loan to public and private individuals.the maximum amount i give out in this loan is $1,000,000.00 USD why the minimum amount i give out is 5000.for more information contact us email finance2014911@gmail.com
Your Full Details: Full Name :……… Country :…………. state:…………. Sex :…………. Address............ Tel :…………. Occupation :…….. Amount Required :………… Purpose of the Loan :…….. Loan Duration :………… Phone Number :……… Contact email: finance2014911@gmail.com
5 comments:
What does a normal day look like for a missileer?
What about a space operator?
How bad are the bad bases? I've heard that the camraderie at the "bad bases" is actually pretty good. Have you found that to be true?
I think it's an exciting time to be a space operator! I currently work alongside 13s as a 62 out at the 2nd Space Ops Squadron (GPS). There is opportunity to cross-flow between the 6X career fields and the 13 career fields. There is a big push to develop a "space cadre" that have experience in ops and acquisitions. I think this will continue to grow in importance as more nations gain space assets. There is a wide variety of space operator positions as a 62 and a 13. While this section is entitled a "day in the life" I want to highlight the opportunity within just one assignment. My first assignment was at LA AFB and my jobs varied quite a bit. In this one assignment I had the opportunity to work as a Delta II Propulsion Engineer (launching GPS and space experiment satellites), Executive Officer (support the commander for the heritage launch vehicle programs), Chief of Milstar Flight Ops (deploy two Milstar satellites and manage a multi-million dollar on-orbit support contract). As a junior officer, there are definitely great leadership opportunities out there to go after!
While there are a variety of positions within space operations I can speak to where I am currently now, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron (GPS). As an engineer, I work in the analysis flight and supervise 62s and 13s. While only 13s are certified to sit on crew, the 62s are still responsible for the same level of knowledge (its a different certification process) since they will conduct the same types of ops, just not as an official "crewmember." As a new 13 in 2SOPS, you'll be coded as either a vehicle advanced operator or a payload advanced operator. You'll go through your crew certification and be part of the 24/7 team responsible for accomplishing the daily support requirements necessary to sustain the GPS constellation. This requires a thorough knowledge of spacecraft systems and emergency procedures. You will be the first line of defense to deal with any anomolous spacecraft issues...it really is a lot of responsibility for a brand new Lt, especially when you understand the far reaching civil and military impacts of GPS. From crew, you can move to the analysis flight (deals with constellation planning and atypcial operations), go to weapons and tactics (exploring new capabilities), move to stan/eval or become an instructor (group positions). As a 62, you will most likely come right to the Analysis Flight for training and certification as an on-call analyst/engineer or work in weapons and tactics. What I've written is just a taste of what's out here in GPS...it is a really dynamic and cutting-edge squadron!
Stealth Cadet - I already posted this on another thread, but I think it fits here as well.
The way it worked when I was on crew was something like this: I would get up, get ready, and go to base for a "Mission Planning" briefing. This was a briefing with only your squadron members going out to the field that day. Immediately after that, we had another briefing called "Pre D" or Pre Deployment. This was with everyone going out to the field that day. After Pre D, we would go to our trucks and drive out to the field. Once at our predetermined location, we would change over with the next crew, and then spend 24 hrs in the capsule. The next morning, you wait till your relief crew comes out and changes over with you, and then you go home.
Here is where things can get a little messy. Depending on what kind of additional duties you have you can either go home for the rest of the day, or you could be in the office after you get home from alert working on whatever it is you need to do. Now, the day after you get off of alert you either have totally off (you don’t come in to work), or more likely, you have some kind of training.
Missileers are required to have 3 different training days a month, along with taking 3 different written exams a month, EVERY MONTH; sometimes more depending on whether or not there is an inspection going on. The day after your training day, you go back out on alert, and start the process all over again. 8 times a month. Being a missileer is a constant cycle of alerts and training. And everything I just described happens if you are just a basic line crew member. If you are a trainer or evaluator, you work in an office 5 days a week, and then go on alert on the weekend (not every weekend, just most).
NOW, having told you all that, the Missile alert schedule is undergoing a change. The missile squadrons are moving from a 24 hr alert schedule, to a 3 day alert schedule. Things would work a little differently than before. Instead of two people to a site, you would have 3 people, with one person living topside for 12 hrs at a time to work issues, train, workout, shower, etc. Instead of pulling eight 24 hr alerts a month, you would pull 6 – 3 day alerts.
The 3 day alert schedule is not set in stone as far as I know, but I wanted to give you a heads up in case it changes by the time you get there.
I am a private loan lender which have all take to be a genuine lender i give out the best loan to my client at a very convenient rate.The interest rate of this loan is 3%.i give out loan to public and private individuals.the maximum amount i give out in this loan is $1,000,000.00 USD why the minimum amount i give out is 5000.for more information contact us email finance2014911@gmail.com
Your Full Details:
Full Name :………
Country :………….
state:………….
Sex :………….
Address............
Tel :………….
Occupation :……..
Amount Required :…………
Purpose of the Loan :……..
Loan Duration :…………
Phone Number :………
Contact email: finance2014911@gmail.com
Post a Comment