Mississippians maintain a hawk's eye view for Q-West

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq - Members of the Mississippi Army National Guard marked their fourth month of maintaining and operating the base defense 17-meter Aerostat balloon for Contingency Operating Location Q-West Nov. 7.

The crewmembers - all members of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 198th Combined Arms, headquartered in Hernando, Miss., and attached to the Base Defense Operations Center - operate in two teams, maintaining the balloon and surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The aerostat teams are a key asset of the Base Defense Operations Center, said Maj. Doug Ferguson, operations officer for 2/198th CAB, 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, out of Senatobia, Miss.

"The teams have been vigilant," said Ferguson, a Hernando, Miss., native. "They have been a combat-multiplier in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance fight."

Their vigilance helped in numerous missions, said Sgt. Maj. John T. Raines III, operations sergeant major for the 2/198th CAB.

"They made a couple of key observations," said Raines, a native of Flowood, Miss.

To qualify as crewmembers, the Soldiers underwent 30 days of training on the technology and procedures for operating the balloon, said Sgt. Wesley G. Patrick, noncommissioned officer in charge of Bravo Team.

"The training was pretty thorough," said Patrick of Southaven, Miss. "It doesn't take a genius to fly the aerostat balloon, but it takes a lot of training and skill to operate the [equipment]. This is a very technical job. We need to know computers and electronics, and still there are numerous components beyond our knowledge."

"The aerostat is excellent for base defense surveillance," said Staff Sgt. John W. Pidgette, NCOIC of Alpha Team and a native of Horn Lake, Miss.

The job can be sedate, such as monitoring the camera systems, but it can also be very physical, said Patrick.

In spite of challenges, all the crewmembers enjoy their job, and they are impressed by the technology, said Pidgette.

"I love doing this and have learned a lot," said Pfc. William C. Williamson, a crewmember from Seattle. "The technology and the science are very interesting, and I plan to learn more when I get home. The system is very accurate."

While they may enjoy their mission, the Soldiers know that challenges can arise at any time, said Spc. Joshua M. Jenkins.

"This mission is great," said Jenkins, a Hernando, Miss., native.

The Soldiers have developed tight-knit bonds over the past months, said Sgt. Joanna J. Brown, assistant NCOIC and computer operator. Previously a supply clerk, Brown said she likes not to be working alone.

"I like this because I'm working more with other Soldiers," said Brown, a Columbus, Miss., native. "There's great camaraderie here, and the two teams have a healthy competition. The Soldiers are well trained and confident. I don't have to push them to do their jobs."

Some of the Soldiers like the mission so much that, when we get home, we want to find civilian jobs with companies that provide this technology to the Department of Homeland Security, said Pidgette.

"Going through all the training and getting this experience gives us opportunities for employment when we get home," said Spc. Andrew N. Faulkner, a camera technician from Hernando, Miss.

For the present, the crewmembers are staying focused on their mission, said Hardy.

"This is an important mission," said Hardy. "We contribute to the surveillance and security of the base. Just having the balloon up there is a deterrent because it tells the enemy that we are always watching."