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Enlisted Sensor Operators take flight in AF's newest career field

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katie Hickerson
  • 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The U.S. Air Force boasts more than 130 enlisted career fields and on Aug. 17 it officially welcomed one more as the first class of 10 enlisted Unmanned Aircraft System sensor operators began their technical school here. 

Because of UAS capabilities, they have become exceedingly high demand aircraft in a very short time, according to the UAS Flight Plan for 2009-2047. The Air Force is flying 660 percent more missions now than five years ago, and there is no end in sight for demands on these aircraft. 

Since Randolph began training Airmen some 70-odd years ago, it has primarily focused on training officer aviators. Now, with the advent of the enlisted sensor operator course, it welcomes enlisted aviators once again. 

Future ground-based aviators mark the inaugural class of 1U0X1 sensor operators in the Basic Sensor Operator course. 

"Basic Sensor Operator Course is a 3-level technical training certification for the newly developed Air Force Specialty Code, 1U0X1," Col. Jimmy Donohue, Detachment 1 commander said. "This training lays the foundation for developing our enlisted force in this new career field, which is critical to meeting the demands of emerging UAS operations." 

He went on to explain that the training includes UAS flight characteristics, sensor capabilities and techniques. Additionally, it will provide a basic understanding of full motion video employment. 

Following initial classroom instruction, the course will pair the UAS pilot and sensor operator tracks, said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Bobenrieth, Air Education and Training Command career enlisted aviator functional manager. By doing this, they may start honing their crew coordination and situational awareness skills, which before now, were major challenges for students to overcome as they arrived at their field training units. 

It is predicted that future UAS pilots will routinely fly multiple aircraft during static portions of a mission. This capability requires each pilot to be engaged for total situational awareness. 

"Once they successfully complete the training here, they will be certified as sensor operators," Colonel Donohue said. "Although certified, they will still require specialized follow-on training before achieving a fully mission capable status." 

Unmanned aircraft systems offer an alternative to traditionally manned platforms. The integration of manned and UAS increases Air Force combat capabilities, adaptability and safety of personnel. 

The UAS Flight Plan vision calls for an Air Force that teams with the other military services, our allies, academia and industry to capitalize on the unique unmanned aircraft attributes of persistence, connectivity, flexibility, autonomy and efficiency.

(Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs contributed to this article.)