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Lights out, gears up … Airfield comes alive at night

By Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman, 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs / Published August 28, 2013

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laci Mendez, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, looks over her weapon during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laci Mendez, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, looks over her weapon during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Ken Burris, 97th Maintenance Directorate electrician, Jeffrey Cunningham, 97th MX work leader, and Alex Erickson, 97th MX hydraulic technician, review a technical order on their work laptop while working on the flightline. The members of the 97th MX were replacing an Integrated Drive Generator on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the night shift. The 97th MX is one of the many squadrons around base that continues to work 24 hours a day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Ken Burris, 97th Maintenance Directorate electrician, Jeffrey Cunningham, 97th MX work leader, and Alex Erickson, 97th MX hydraulic technician, review a technical order on their work laptop while working on the flightline. The members of the 97th MX were replacing an Integrated Drive Generator on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the night shift. The 97th MX is one of the many squadrons around base that continues to work 24 hours a day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Members of the 97th Maintenance Directorate, work to replace an Integrated Drive Generator on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the night shift on the flightline, June 26. The 97th MX is one of the many squadrons that continues to work 24 hours a day to keep the mission at Altus AFB thriving. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Members of the 97th Maintenance Directorate, work to replace an Integrated Drive Generator on a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III during the night shift on the flightline, June 26. The 97th MX is one of the many squadrons that continues to work 24 hours a day to keep the mission at Altus AFB thriving. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III is prepped for departure for a night flight here June 28. Night flights are a key part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing’s training mission and would not be possible without the joint effort of numerous squadrons around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III is prepped for departure for a night flight here June 28. Night flights are a key part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing’s training mission and would not be possible without the joint effort of numerous squadrons around the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – A U.S. Air Force loadmaster from the 58th Airlift Squadron and loadmaster student from the 97th Training Squadron, prepare to depart after completing a combat offload on the flightline here. Aircraft continue to fly here until about 2 a.m. and after all aircraft have been parked, other squadrons continue to work around the clock to keep them mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – A U.S. Air Force loadmaster from the 58th Airlift Squadron and loadmaster student from the 97th Training Squadron, prepare to depart after completing a combat offload on the flightline here. Aircraft continue to fly here until about 2 a.m. and after all aircraft have been parked, other squadrons continue to work around the clock to keep them mission ready. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Wilson, 58th Airlift Squadron superintendent, listens to his headset during a night training flight here, Aug. 8. Sergeant Wilson was the loadmaster instructor for two loadmaster students from the Canadian Armed Forces during the night flight. Night training is an essential part of the training mission here and prepares students for real world flying operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Wilson, 58th Airlift Squadron superintendent, listens to his headset during a night training flight here, Aug. 8. Sergeant Wilson was the loadmaster instructor for two loadmaster students from the Canadian Armed Forces during the night flight. Night training is an essential part of the training mission here and prepares students for real world flying operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Nickey Jones, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Boyd, 97th SFS flight sergeant of Charlie flight, look at a map of the airfield during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Nickey Jones, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Boyd, 97th SFS flight sergeant of Charlie flight, look at a map of the airfield during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Boyd, 97th Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant for Charlie flight, and Airman 1st Class Sheridyn Webb, 97th SFS response force member, discuss coordinates on a map of the airfield during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Boyd, 97th Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant for Charlie flight, and Airman 1st Class Sheridyn Webb, 97th SFS response force member, discuss coordinates on a map of the airfield during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laci Mendez, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, listens to a fellow SFS member while restraining Nickey Jones, 97th SFS response force patrolman, during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Laci Mendez, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, listens to a fellow SFS member while restraining Nickey Jones, 97th SFS response force patrolman, during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brenden Marlin, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, rolls Nickey Jones, 97th SFS response force patrolman, after restraining his hands, during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)
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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brenden Marlin, 97th Security Forces Squadron response force patrolman, rolls Nickey Jones, 97th SFS response force patrolman, after restraining his hands, during a simulated security incident on the flightline Aug. 27. The 97th SFS is responsible for guarding the base 24 hours a day. They are one of the various squadrons that work around the clock to ensure mission success at Altus AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman / Released)

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ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- When the sun sets most folks are settling down with their families, eating dinner or relaxing while watching their favorite television show, but for others it is time to work.

We don't just forge combat mobility forces during the day at Altus AFB. The flight line and airspace continue to thrive even under the cover of darkness.

I recently had the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the hard work that makes night operations on the airfield possible. It was great getting to see various squadrons work together to accomplish the mission.

Aircrews and their students receive vital training using Night Vision Goggles during night flights. To support them, air traffic controllers and radar approach and control Airmen from the 97th Operations Support Squadron choreograph the airfield movements. Also, Airmen from 97th OSS airfield management inspect the runways and aircrew flight equipment ensures essential equipment, such as oxygen masks, are in proper working order on the aircraft.

Defenders from the 97th Security Forces Squadron patrol the flight line all night ensuring the safety of all base members working the night shift as well as protecting millions of dollars worth of aircraft and equipment.

In order for the flying mission to take place, planes must be in proper working order. That is where the 97th Maintenance Directorate comes into play. The 97th MX works around the clock to ensure that all aircraft are fully functioning and mission ready.

Other elements of night operations on the flightline are transportation and cargo loading and unloading, which is taken care of by the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The opportunity to experience a piece of each squadron's vital role in our base mission connected the dots for me. Watching Airmen from different squadrons and flights work together to accomplish our mission throughout the night showed me why we are the greatest Air Force in the world.