The 14th Operations Support Squadron: its diversity and mission

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  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 14th Operations Support Squadron is commanded by Lt. Col. Brian "Salsa" Murphy. The 14th OSS is a geographically-diverse unit composed of four flights and the Command Support Staff section. Its mission is to Support Training, Grow Airmen, and Employ Warriors. It accomplishes this by coordinating the efforts of its diverse and capable personnel.

The Current Operations Flight is co-located with the Command Support Staff. Its mission is to provide daily accurate scheduling, airspace, and Host Aviation Resource Management support to the wing. The airspace shop monitors and maintains the airspace used and also keeps current letters of agreement with the airfields used for training. The scheduling shop coordinates the schedules between all the flying squadrons, monitors the flying hour program for the base, and passes statistics up to AETC on how the wing is doing for the flying hour program. The HARM office maintains Flight Record Folders for more than 700 pilots on base. They are responsible for authorizing Aviation Career Incentive Pay as well as producing Aeronautical Orders authorizing aircrew to fly.

The Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight's main office is in the Command Support Staff building and has sections embedded within every flying training squadron on base. Their mission is to provide United States Air Force aircrew safe and effective aircrew flight equipment and programs to increase aircrew performance. OSL is charged with ensuring all flight and survival equipment is in perfect working order, such as helmets, oxygen masks, parachutes, flotation devices, survival kits, anti-G garments, and aircrew eye and respiratory protective equipment. AFE conducts over 40,000 equipment inspections per year in addition to building and fitting the flight gear for over 500 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training students. AFE operates various types of test equipment such as altimeters, oxygen testers, leakage testers, radio testers and other types of testers to conduct reliability testing of AFE. They perform operator maintenance and service inspections on in-shop equipment and instruct aircrew on the purpose, operations, care and use of their aircrew flight equipment.

The Weather Flight is co-located with Base Operations. Its mission is to deliver timely, mission-focused weather data in support of the 14th Flying Training Wing. OSW provides a key interface with the installation's flying and ground operations. It is your dedicated eyes forward and uses real-time radar, satellite imagery, and visual observations to observe and forecast local conditions. OSW also works closely with multiple government agencies including the NOAA and the NWS by sharing critical weather data for increased public safety. And it provides in-flight weather support and resource protection for all of Columbus AFB. This enables OSW to provide precise, mission-focused weather support in training the world's best professional military pilots.

The Airfield Operations Flight is located in the Tower and RAPCON buildings. Its mission is to provide visible, safe, efficient, and positive air traffic and airfield management support for the 14th FTW.

OSA's Tower, RAPCON, and Airfield Management sections work closely with base aircraft and coordinate with other base agencies to keep the airfield at a high level of readiness. Tower personnel control the ground and local flying operations for 270 aircraft daily. RAPCON personnel control flying operations in over 34,000 square miles of airspace. In addition, the Airfield Management personnel provide critical data and services to ensure safe and effective airfield ground operations.