Flying, fighting, winning – a team effort Published Nov. 14, 2012 By Senior Airman Antoinette J. Thompson 48th Operations Group ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Fly, fight, win! As Air Force members we are knowledgeable on the traditions, expectations and overall mission of the organization. Our goal is to be precise and dominant, and we have well accomplished that throughout the years. My decision to join the Air Force came after watching a commercial with jets flying high, fulfilling their duties in the air. I assured myself that one day I would be a part of the elite group of people who work side by side with Air Force pilots. When I thought of the Air Force, I immediately pictured men and women in flight suits. From the outside looking in, flying is all I associated the Air Force with. It was not until I joined that I realized in order to get our jets in the air, we could never disregard the men and women providing support on the ground. I quickly learned that all missions in the Air Force are achieved through team effort. Whether flying, providing administrative support, intelligence or medical readiness, we all play a large part in accomplishing daily tasks and real-time mission responses. Being part of the 48th Operations Group, I have been privileged enough to gain close relationships with aircrew as well as those on the ground providing technical, scheduling and training support. Sometimes we forget about what it takes to get a pilot in the air; however, Aviation Resource Managers know it firsthand. They ensure aircrew are trained, equipped and ready to sustain flight missions. From scheduling and flight pay to training and administrative duties, these men and women provide sufficient support to flying operations. "As 1Cs (aviation resource management) we ensure our aircrew are proficient in all tasks, remain physically qualified, ensure physiological training is up to date and manage aircrew qualifications," said Staff Sgt. Bryan Randle, 493rd Fighter Squadron aviation resource manager. "All of these duties ensure that our pilots are safe to be in the air." Our aviation resource managers utilize flying hour information sent from Air Combat Command that relays to them how many flights are needed from our 48th Fighter Wing pilots. It is also their job to brief our pilots on weather conditions, which helps ensure the aircrews' safety and lets them know if they need to divert their route. A large portion of their duties include utilizing ARMS (Aviation Resource Management System). This system allows aviation resource managers to input pilot's training, flying times, aeronautical orders, flight pay, badges and ratings. Domination in the air means more than skilled flight maneuvering and trained pilots. It also takes the effort and support of all Air Force personnel. The Air Force mission cannot be accomplished by any single Air Force Specialty Code. It takes the teamwork and expertise of every field. We must all be knowledgeable of our duties and continue to develop innovative ways to accomplish the mission. When I enlisted, I was drawn to pilots and the bravery and honor they displayed in service to their country. However, now four years into my enlistment, I have also gained an appreciation for the men and women who contribute to the Air Force on the ground. Whether in the air or on the ground, we are all key factors in the success of the Air Force mission.