27 February 2003
RAF Fairford pulses with equipment, airmen
By Staff Sgt. Kristina Barrett
RAF Fairford Public Affairs 

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England (USAFENS) - More than 150 airmen arrived here recently, preparing the base for an influx of additional airmen and supplies that will be arriving to support the global war on terrorism and possible future contingency operations.

As one-of-four bomber forward operating locations, RAF Fairford’s mission is to support U.S. and NATO bomber and contingency operations in the North European region. The base has the ability to be activated on short notice at any time.

“We have the platform and supporting infrastructure to receive any aircraft in the Air Force inventory at any time, and are only limited by those deployable assets required to support the contingency team,” said Lt. Col. Max Rothman, 424th Air Base Squadron commander. The 424th ABS is a geographically separated unit, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.

A bulk of the airmen who have arrived are working along side permanent party airmen in the fitness center, lodging and transportation, as well as starting mothball operations such as the dining facility and contingency dormitories.

“Right now we’re on “12s” (working12-hour shifts) running the shuttle route so people can get around,” said Airman 1st Class Travis Zoellner, deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. “For us, supporting the mission is job one, and we do that by getting people where they need to go.”

Certain organizations, such as the fire department, aren’t staffed with Air Force personnel full time, so three airmen from RAF Mildenhall have been deployed here to prepare for possible aircraft on the runway.

“I’m looking forward to supporting the mission,” said Tech. Sgt. James Sweeney, deployed firefighter. “It’s a great opportunity to be a part of any contingency operation we may be called upon to perform.”