1 00:00:00,508 --> 00:00:03,758 (upbeat ambient music) 2 00:00:09,660 --> 00:00:11,160 - Welcome to From the Crows Nest, 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,730 a podcast on electromagnetic spectrum operations or MSO. 4 00:00:14,730 --> 00:00:17,070 I'm your host, Ken Miller, director of Advocacy 5 00:00:17,070 --> 00:00:19,050 and Outreach for the Association of Old Crows. 6 00:00:19,050 --> 00:00:20,280 Thanks for listening. 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:21,870 In this episode of From the Crows Nest, 8 00:00:21,870 --> 00:00:23,910 I share with you a conversation I had 9 00:00:23,910 --> 00:00:27,150 with representatives from the 55th Electronic Combat Group, 10 00:00:27,150 --> 00:00:29,700 the Compass Call Community, during my visit 11 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:32,550 to Davis Mountain Air Force Base back in January. 12 00:00:32,550 --> 00:00:34,170 Now, as many of you know, the Compass Call 13 00:00:34,170 --> 00:00:39,170 is recognized by the Venerable EC-130H aircraft, 14 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,300 but the Compass Call is more than just an airframe, 15 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:43,860 it's also a mission. 16 00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:45,960 And the US Air Force is in the process 17 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,510 of replacing the agency 130 airframe 18 00:00:48,510 --> 00:00:52,913 with a more operationally relevant EA-37B airframe, 19 00:00:52,913 --> 00:00:55,494 EA standing for electronic attack, 20 00:00:55,494 --> 00:00:58,800 which is a variant of the Gulf Stream. 21 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,061 This process has been 22 00:01:00,061 --> 00:01:03,600 less than smooth at times than it needs to be. 23 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:05,484 And you know, from an AOC perspective, 24 00:01:05,484 --> 00:01:10,484 we support the delivery of additional E-83B aircraft 25 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,676 and of course, on a faster timeframe, 26 00:01:13,676 --> 00:01:15,795 time scheduled than they currently are. 27 00:01:15,795 --> 00:01:18,300 But there is progress being made on that front, 28 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:21,270 and we applaud the Air Force for the work being done. 29 00:01:21,270 --> 00:01:23,116 But really the takeaway from my visit 30 00:01:23,116 --> 00:01:26,340 with the Compass Call community was, of course, 31 00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:29,790 just how critical the Compass Call mission 32 00:01:29,790 --> 00:01:32,580 is today to successful MSO operations 33 00:01:32,580 --> 00:01:34,590 and just how amazing this community is at 34 00:01:34,590 --> 00:01:38,285 conducting their mission and the pride they take in it. 35 00:01:38,285 --> 00:01:40,110 It was really refreshing to be out there, 36 00:01:40,110 --> 00:01:40,943 spend the day with them, 37 00:01:40,943 --> 00:01:43,515 I greatly appreciate them taking time from their 38 00:01:43,515 --> 00:01:46,620 busy schedule, their high demand, a mission, 39 00:01:46,620 --> 00:01:47,700 and they're always on the go. 40 00:01:47,700 --> 00:01:50,190 So it was great to spend some time with them, 41 00:01:50,190 --> 00:01:51,023 sit down with them 42 00:01:51,023 --> 00:01:53,280 and learn a little bit more about where they're at today. 43 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:54,898 Now before I get to that interview, 44 00:01:54,898 --> 00:01:58,050 for those who listened to last week's bonus episode 45 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:00,390 on what is going on in Congress these days, 46 00:02:00,390 --> 00:02:02,070 you'll know that the president's budget 47 00:02:02,070 --> 00:02:04,260 was delivered to Capitol Hill this week. 48 00:02:04,260 --> 00:02:05,970 That's kind of the big milestone 49 00:02:05,970 --> 00:02:07,530 that everyone in DC is talking about, 50 00:02:07,530 --> 00:02:10,375 and probably only people in DC are talking about it. 51 00:02:10,375 --> 00:02:13,297 But the main talking point, of course is that, 52 00:02:13,297 --> 00:02:15,480 you know, the president's budget every year, 53 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,220 year in and year out is dead on arrival 54 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:19,470 until Congress gets its hands on it. 55 00:02:19,470 --> 00:02:20,910 But the fact is, 56 00:02:20,910 --> 00:02:23,880 the truth is that much of this budget remains intact 57 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,200 through the appropriations process. 58 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:26,400 So it really does give you an idea 59 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,820 of where the budget is going throughout the fiscal year. 60 00:02:29,820 --> 00:02:31,860 This is especially true with the defense budget. 61 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:33,750 Congress will play around with 62 00:02:33,750 --> 00:02:34,980 some of the major initiatives, 63 00:02:34,980 --> 00:02:38,082 but the bulk of the defense budget is gonna remain intact. 64 00:02:38,082 --> 00:02:42,450 So the President's budget calls for 849.8 billion 65 00:02:42,450 --> 00:02:45,152 for the Department of Defense in FY 2025, 66 00:02:45,152 --> 00:02:50,152 and that's about a 4.1% increase over fiscal year 2024. 67 00:02:50,322 --> 00:02:54,390 Now there'll be folks in Congress on both sides saying 68 00:02:54,390 --> 00:02:56,730 either that needs to be a higher number or a lower number, 69 00:02:56,730 --> 00:03:00,512 and those views do not break down along party lines. 70 00:03:00,512 --> 00:03:02,910 Those views are represented on both sides of the aisle. 71 00:03:02,910 --> 00:03:05,250 So there'll be some talk about 72 00:03:05,250 --> 00:03:06,420 what that final number will be, 73 00:03:06,420 --> 00:03:10,348 but that's the starting point is 849.8 billion. 74 00:03:10,348 --> 00:03:13,841 There are also several interesting 75 00:03:13,841 --> 00:03:16,987 MSO priorities highlighted in the budget, 76 00:03:16,987 --> 00:03:21,750 of course, in addition to the EA-18G Growler 77 00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:23,430 capability modifications, 78 00:03:23,430 --> 00:03:25,993 their support for the next generation jammer 79 00:03:25,993 --> 00:03:29,370 to improve electronic attack capabilities. 80 00:03:29,370 --> 00:03:33,690 There's also funding for the F-15 Eagle passive active 81 00:03:33,690 --> 00:03:35,789 warning and survivability system, 82 00:03:35,789 --> 00:03:39,180 and the integrated defensive electronic countermeasure 83 00:03:39,180 --> 00:03:42,660 system for all F-18 aircraft. 84 00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:46,140 There is also the direction that the Department 85 00:03:46,140 --> 00:03:48,690 of the Air Force must achieve electromagnetic dominance 86 00:03:48,690 --> 00:03:50,940 to maintain information advantage 87 00:03:50,940 --> 00:03:53,692 so the establishment of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations 88 00:03:53,692 --> 00:03:55,440 Center of Excellence. 89 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,386 And then there are also also plans to accelerate 90 00:03:59,386 --> 00:04:03,000 EC-37B baseline by transferring resources 91 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,020 from the retiring EC-130H Compass Call aircraft 92 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:10,560 to this new EA-37B variant. 93 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,090 There are other initiatives 94 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:15,309 that support the CHIPS Act on microelectronics, 95 00:04:15,309 --> 00:04:17,910 as well as other critical technologies 96 00:04:17,910 --> 00:04:20,160 and hypersonic weapons, electronic warfare, 97 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,620 nuclear modernization, so forth. 98 00:04:22,620 --> 00:04:25,545 And then finally, of course, you know, there is, 99 00:04:25,545 --> 00:04:29,100 from the C power perspective, there is money in there 100 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:32,220 for the Surface Electronic Improvement Program, 101 00:04:32,220 --> 00:04:33,409 but block three, 102 00:04:33,409 --> 00:04:38,409 and some additional money for C4ISR systems. 103 00:04:38,452 --> 00:04:41,940 So all that to say is there's a lot in the budget, 104 00:04:41,940 --> 00:04:43,530 we're still going through getting the numbers 105 00:04:43,530 --> 00:04:45,150 for some of these initiatives. 106 00:04:45,150 --> 00:04:47,340 We'll bring all that to you as we get them, 107 00:04:47,340 --> 00:04:50,070 either on the show, on from the Crow's Nest, 108 00:04:50,070 --> 00:04:51,750 or you can look at, 109 00:04:51,750 --> 00:04:56,310 look for articles in the AOCs Weekly ECRO newsletter 110 00:04:56,310 --> 00:04:57,960 that comes out on Wednesdays. 111 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,000 But again, we'll try to provide this information 112 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,160 for you as much as we can, as quickly as we can. 113 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,950 All right, so that was a lot. 114 00:05:04,950 --> 00:05:06,300 I greatly appreciate your patience 115 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:07,470 as we go through some of that, 116 00:05:07,470 --> 00:05:08,610 but I felt it was really important 117 00:05:08,610 --> 00:05:12,180 to kind give you an update that's where we're standing at 118 00:05:12,180 --> 00:05:14,373 on the annual defense budget process. 119 00:05:14,373 --> 00:05:17,280 So now I would like to take you to my interview 120 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:19,431 with the 55th Electronic Combat Group 121 00:05:19,431 --> 00:05:21,930 to discuss today's Compass Call mission. 122 00:05:21,930 --> 00:05:22,763 Let's listen in. 123 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:24,930 I am pleased to be here 124 00:05:24,930 --> 00:05:27,960 with a team from the 55th Electronic Combat Group, 125 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,350 the Compass Call out here at Davis Monte Air Force Base, 126 00:05:31,350 --> 00:05:34,320 and I'm also here with my subject matter expert 127 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,450 and senior analyst Matt Thompson. 128 00:05:36,450 --> 00:05:38,010 (loud droning) 129 00:05:38,010 --> 00:05:40,920 And I'll go around and we'll introduce everybody here. 130 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,410 But I'm here with Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Palchick, 131 00:05:43,410 --> 00:05:45,151 as well as first Lieutenant Colin Schultz. 132 00:05:45,151 --> 00:05:48,030 I first wanna thank you all for opening the doors 133 00:05:48,030 --> 00:05:51,000 and welcoming us here for our visit this week. 134 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,980 It's been a great morning with you 135 00:05:52,980 --> 00:05:54,450 getting up to speed on the Compass Call 136 00:05:54,450 --> 00:05:58,849 and of course, the arrival, in the near here of the EA-37B 137 00:05:58,849 --> 00:06:02,220 and the impact that that's gonna have on the mission 138 00:06:02,220 --> 00:06:05,580 and the improved capability and all that's going on there. 139 00:06:05,580 --> 00:06:07,410 So really appreciate you 140 00:06:07,410 --> 00:06:09,810 taking time outta your busy schedule and thank you 141 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:11,850 for joining me here on From the Crows Nest. 142 00:06:11,850 --> 00:06:14,074 So just to begin, for our listeners, 143 00:06:14,074 --> 00:06:18,210 we'll go around and if you could just say your name 144 00:06:18,210 --> 00:06:19,170 and kind of a little bit of what, 145 00:06:19,170 --> 00:06:22,130 how you fit into the leadership structure here at the 55th. 146 00:06:22,130 --> 00:06:23,250 - Oh yeah, easy day. 147 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:25,250 So Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Palchick. 148 00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:27,176 I'm the 55th Electronic Group Deputy Commander, 149 00:06:27,176 --> 00:06:31,050 so working under Colonel Olson, who's the 06 for the group. 150 00:06:31,050 --> 00:06:33,660 and a relative new group member to the family, 151 00:06:33,660 --> 00:06:35,700 but basically bring a lot of expertise 152 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:36,875 from my SOCOM background 153 00:06:36,875 --> 00:06:39,630 and then some electronic attack background from that, 154 00:06:39,630 --> 00:06:40,560 and basic help with the big part 155 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,570 of the leadership team of the group. 156 00:06:42,570 --> 00:06:44,040 - Yep, so I'm Lieutenant Schultz, 157 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,334 I'm just a line flyer here. 158 00:06:45,334 --> 00:06:47,040 I've been here for a couple years. 159 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,527 I just went through upgrade to be a mission crew commander, 160 00:06:49,527 --> 00:06:52,982 so the lead EWO on any particular flight. 161 00:06:52,982 --> 00:06:57,420 So yeah, I'm just flying lines once, twice a week 162 00:06:57,420 --> 00:06:59,760 and just trying to get better at my job every day. 163 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,730 - To begin, obviously the rest of our conversation 164 00:07:02,730 --> 00:07:06,270 is gonna be about transitioning the Compass Call aircraft 165 00:07:06,270 --> 00:07:09,630 EC-130 to the EA-37B. 166 00:07:09,630 --> 00:07:12,180 And just to get us started, 167 00:07:12,180 --> 00:07:13,755 could you tell us a little bit about 168 00:07:13,755 --> 00:07:17,093 the current aircraft you have, the EC-130 Compass Call 169 00:07:17,093 --> 00:07:20,854 and what kind of capabilities and limitations it brings 170 00:07:20,854 --> 00:07:23,193 (loud droning) to your current fight? 171 00:07:24,810 --> 00:07:26,010 - Do some high level stuff. 172 00:07:26,010 --> 00:07:27,030 I'll turn up to Lieutenant Schultz, 173 00:07:27,030 --> 00:07:29,010 can I be more details so you can fill in the gaps? 174 00:07:29,010 --> 00:07:29,843 Great. 175 00:07:29,843 --> 00:07:31,332 So big picture, right, 176 00:07:31,332 --> 00:07:33,030 so EC-130H very legacy old airplane, 177 00:07:33,030 --> 00:07:35,310 a lot of the things airplanes were built during Vietnam, 178 00:07:35,310 --> 00:07:38,490 their in heritage gear became active in 1982. 179 00:07:38,490 --> 00:07:41,749 From capability perspective started off with basics, 180 00:07:41,749 --> 00:07:42,582 just comms jamming 181 00:07:42,582 --> 00:07:43,415 where it first started with, 182 00:07:43,415 --> 00:07:45,000 over the years incorporated more. 183 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,120 So going against radars, more advanced data links, 184 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,940 things in the future, then kind of going into meshing in 185 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:52,830 with the other electronic attack assets, 186 00:07:52,830 --> 00:07:56,520 so the growler from the Navy and previously the Prowler 187 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,590 when the Marines, the Navy flew that. 188 00:07:58,590 --> 00:08:00,113 And then going into the future 189 00:08:00,113 --> 00:08:02,040 building into integrating with fifth gen 190 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,530 and eventually sixth when NGAG comes online. 191 00:08:04,530 --> 00:08:06,754 A big part of the pie 192 00:08:06,754 --> 00:08:09,630 when going against the electromagnetic spectrum 193 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:12,094 and then superiority across the entire spectrum. 194 00:08:12,094 --> 00:08:14,676 And so, like I said, we're a big part of the joint fight 195 00:08:14,676 --> 00:08:16,890 and sort of the MSO GSO concept. 196 00:08:16,890 --> 00:08:18,131 - And you said, you know, 197 00:08:18,131 --> 00:08:19,920 the airframe has been around a long time, 198 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,800 I think well over 40 years, 199 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,640 but it's obviously the mission 200 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,402 has been continually upgraded. 201 00:08:25,402 --> 00:08:28,170 How challenging has it been to figure out 202 00:08:28,170 --> 00:08:30,540 how to meet those mission requirements 203 00:08:30,540 --> 00:08:32,370 and you still have the old airframe, 204 00:08:32,370 --> 00:08:34,920 it doesn't fly high, it doesn't, you know, whatever. 205 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,830 So how challenging is it to kind of 206 00:08:37,830 --> 00:08:40,500 make sure that you can continue to do that mission? 207 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:43,230 - Yeah, so from our partners and let's say Paycom, 208 00:08:43,230 --> 00:08:45,510 and across the world, so the age of the airplane, 209 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:48,330 so speed, altitude makes its hard to integrate 210 00:08:48,330 --> 00:08:50,483 in the current fight and that kind of leads into the EA-37 211 00:08:50,483 --> 00:08:53,430 when it comes online, higher, faster. 212 00:08:53,430 --> 00:08:55,387 And then in terms of the actual mission set, 213 00:08:55,387 --> 00:08:56,880 (indistinct) how I transition to you for this, 214 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,044 is the better integrations of our new capabilities. 215 00:08:59,044 --> 00:09:01,650 So everything's from kind of hodgepodge together 216 00:09:01,650 --> 00:09:03,476 and then the EA-37 will allow us to 217 00:09:03,476 --> 00:09:06,000 bring it all together into the weapons system 218 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:08,118 versus sort of add-ons and tech-ons. 219 00:09:08,118 --> 00:09:09,720 - For sure, yeah, you know, 220 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,831 it's a little before my time talking about Afghanistan 221 00:09:12,831 --> 00:09:14,573 and stuff like that, but I think it was really 222 00:09:14,573 --> 00:09:16,050 kinda the perfect platform for that 223 00:09:16,050 --> 00:09:18,450 and it could be there for a long time, 224 00:09:18,450 --> 00:09:22,734 had really good longevity in the air, air-refuelable. 225 00:09:22,734 --> 00:09:25,800 And yeah, just talking about being able to 226 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,093 kind of strap on different capabilities. 227 00:09:28,093 --> 00:09:31,320 So we had our classic counter con, 228 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:32,760 counter radar, stuff like that, 229 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:34,410 some that was used more than others 230 00:09:34,410 --> 00:09:36,540 and the kind of coin stuff that we, 231 00:09:36,540 --> 00:09:39,540 that ECG has been doing for the last 20 years or so. 232 00:09:39,540 --> 00:09:41,640 But getting to kind of build on 233 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,260 with more of those advanced profiles 234 00:09:43,260 --> 00:09:46,150 and pretty much just be a flying, a giant flying transmitter 235 00:09:46,150 --> 00:09:48,510 that you can kind of stick a lot of stuff onto 236 00:09:48,510 --> 00:09:51,510 and just see how it works, 237 00:09:51,510 --> 00:09:54,720 I think really put us in a good spot for the EA-37 238 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,750 to say like, "Hey, it's cool that we have all these things, 239 00:09:57,750 --> 00:10:00,870 it would be even better if it worked more seamless. 240 00:10:00,870 --> 00:10:03,630 - Key part of our visit here is to kind of come up to speed 241 00:10:03,630 --> 00:10:06,330 with the compass call mission and in anticipation 242 00:10:06,330 --> 00:10:09,960 of the EA-37B arriving here sometime spring. 243 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,790 And what's great about any new aircraft 244 00:10:11,790 --> 00:10:13,290 is the minute that it arrives, 245 00:10:13,290 --> 00:10:14,700 everything just flips right over 246 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:18,180 and you're fully, right, you've got that. 247 00:10:18,180 --> 00:10:21,270 So, no, but could you give us a little bit of insight 248 00:10:21,270 --> 00:10:22,110 into the plan for the, 249 00:10:22,110 --> 00:10:24,755 because this transition plan is gonna be multi-year, 250 00:10:24,755 --> 00:10:27,990 a lot of different moving parts, different pieces 251 00:10:27,990 --> 00:10:29,932 that you constantly have to fit and refit into it. 252 00:10:29,932 --> 00:10:32,640 So could you give us a little bit of information 253 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:36,678 on the plan to transition from the EC-130 to the EA- 37B? 254 00:10:36,678 --> 00:10:38,790 - Yeah, so I'll kinda give you an overlighting a timeline. 255 00:10:38,790 --> 00:10:41,253 So the sun setting of the EA, 256 00:10:41,253 --> 00:10:43,200 sorry, the EC-130 has already started 257 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:44,910 roughly in the past two years. 258 00:10:44,910 --> 00:10:46,140 We're decorating over time 259 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:49,675 where the last two aircraft will sunset the end of FY '26. 260 00:10:49,675 --> 00:10:52,620 And at that point I think we're having, 261 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:55,110 I think it's six aircraft at that point 262 00:10:55,110 --> 00:10:57,870 when we kind of swap over with the full buy plan 263 00:10:57,870 --> 00:10:59,190 to be up to 10 aircraft, 264 00:10:59,190 --> 00:11:02,215 eventually fully completing an FY-31. 265 00:11:02,215 --> 00:11:03,900 So, like I said, 266 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:07,979 full transition over EC-130 sunsets in FY '26. 267 00:11:07,979 --> 00:11:11,760 End of FY '26, at the end of that being FY '27, 268 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,180 the new A-37B comes online as the Compass Call. 269 00:11:15,180 --> 00:11:18,090 - And the first airframe is delivered here in spring. 270 00:11:18,090 --> 00:11:19,890 Do you have a time for that? 271 00:11:19,890 --> 00:11:20,723 - End of March. 272 00:11:20,723 --> 00:11:21,556 End of March, 273 00:11:21,556 --> 00:11:23,316 Will be first aircraft here at DM to start again, 274 00:11:23,316 --> 00:11:28,099 the pilots spun up on a fly a modern G515. 275 00:11:28,099 --> 00:11:30,630 - But that is not, for our listeners, 276 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:33,330 that is not the initial operating capability of it. 277 00:11:33,330 --> 00:11:35,740 So how long will it take to get to that point 278 00:11:35,740 --> 00:11:37,020 as well as then 279 00:11:37,020 --> 00:11:39,090 when does the second one come or a third one? 280 00:11:39,090 --> 00:11:40,140 - So the bigger thing 281 00:11:40,140 --> 00:11:42,180 in terms of when is in more of an operational aircraft, 282 00:11:42,180 --> 00:11:43,260 so some of the bigger things 283 00:11:43,260 --> 00:11:44,719 for the timeline really would be 284 00:11:44,719 --> 00:11:47,910 the end of FY '25 is when we'll have 285 00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:51,270 our a full fielding recommendation for when the aircraft 286 00:11:51,270 --> 00:11:54,090 will be technically IOC at that point. 287 00:11:54,090 --> 00:11:55,423 - What are some of the key differences? 288 00:11:55,423 --> 00:11:58,650 Obviously just the eye test, 289 00:11:58,650 --> 00:12:01,260 you can tell like it's dramatically different. 290 00:12:01,260 --> 00:12:02,610 So what are some of the key differences 291 00:12:02,610 --> 00:12:04,650 that you could share with us in terms of what 292 00:12:04,650 --> 00:12:07,590 the new EA-37B can do? 293 00:12:07,590 --> 00:12:08,423 - Yeah. 294 00:12:08,423 --> 00:12:09,420 So let's say, I guess we'll share this one too, 295 00:12:09,420 --> 00:12:10,770 but from the higher level, 296 00:12:10,770 --> 00:12:12,840 higher, faster, more capable, right? 297 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,760 So old T-130, 298 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,380 can't keep up with the current strike packages. 299 00:12:16,380 --> 00:12:18,161 It's a big planning consideration 300 00:12:18,161 --> 00:12:21,600 wherever we go in the world, higher, better line of sight, 301 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,390 can throw those photons further, affect more systems, 302 00:12:24,390 --> 00:12:25,350 and then more capable. 303 00:12:25,350 --> 00:12:27,720 And then I'll hand it to you Lieutenant Schultz about 304 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,630 better integrated and better future capability. 305 00:12:30,630 --> 00:12:32,040 So more men missing out. 306 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:33,399 - Absolutely. 307 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:36,210 So it definitely, we have very similar capabilities 308 00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:39,123 as far as what our jamming capabilities are, 309 00:12:39,123 --> 00:12:40,590 but better in a lot of ways, 310 00:12:40,590 --> 00:12:42,000 like I said, it's kind of more seamless, 311 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,330 especially with the kind of clipping stuff that we can do. 312 00:12:45,330 --> 00:12:46,260 But that being said, 313 00:12:46,260 --> 00:12:48,960 if you're just looking at not doing coin anymore 314 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:49,920 and looking at the near peer, 315 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:51,930 like you gotta be farther away, 316 00:12:51,930 --> 00:12:54,622 you gotta be able to get away faster essentially 317 00:12:54,622 --> 00:12:55,824 if we had to. 318 00:12:55,824 --> 00:12:59,797 Looking at that, that's kinda the biggest factor. 319 00:12:59,797 --> 00:13:03,030 And just having more power essentially in what we're doing, 320 00:13:03,030 --> 00:13:05,280 having kind of our miniaturized components, 321 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,400 making us kind of what lighter and that kinda stuff, 322 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,520 and being more seamless, having newer radios. 323 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:15,300 I think the maintenance reliability rate, just being, 324 00:13:15,300 --> 00:13:17,910 having that 90% ish availability rate 325 00:13:17,910 --> 00:13:19,410 is gonna be huge for us. 326 00:13:19,410 --> 00:13:21,360 Both getting reps at home as well as, 327 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,670 you know, for any kind of conflict in the future. 328 00:13:23,670 --> 00:13:27,000 - What is the availability rate now of the current? 329 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,370 I know that's kind of hard maybe with the sundown, 330 00:13:29,370 --> 00:13:30,630 but. - Yeah, 331 00:13:30,630 --> 00:13:31,463 it's a challenge. 332 00:13:31,463 --> 00:13:32,622 - Okay. - I'll put it that way, 333 00:13:32,622 --> 00:13:33,620 right. - Okay. 334 00:13:33,620 --> 00:13:34,453 - So old airplanes, 335 00:13:34,453 --> 00:13:37,770 fewer and fewer and globally speaking the Air Force 336 00:13:37,770 --> 00:13:40,230 has gone away from the H model C-130, 337 00:13:40,230 --> 00:13:42,720 so it's hard to maintain airplane 338 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:45,450 that the larger DOD doesn't really support anymore. 339 00:13:45,450 --> 00:13:48,038 So it's a continual challenge as, 340 00:13:48,038 --> 00:13:49,650 and actually I think two people here 341 00:13:49,650 --> 00:13:51,000 that tried to fly yesterday 342 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,230 found out I tried to fly yesterday too. 343 00:13:52,230 --> 00:13:54,060 All of it didn't happen, it didn't happen. 344 00:13:54,060 --> 00:13:56,310 So it can be very challenging. 345 00:13:56,310 --> 00:13:58,440 - So I want to go back to lieutenant Schultz, 346 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,240 you know, you mentioned a few of the things 347 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,960 that the new EA-37B is going to have. 348 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:05,190 What are some of, 349 00:14:05,190 --> 00:14:07,380 a couple of the real key capability improvements 350 00:14:07,380 --> 00:14:10,290 that you're most excited about seeing in the field 351 00:14:10,290 --> 00:14:13,691 or another way, obviously with, you know, 352 00:14:13,691 --> 00:14:16,050 security challenges around the world as they are today? 353 00:14:16,050 --> 00:14:21,040 I mean, the minute the EA-37B is fielded, 354 00:14:21,962 --> 00:14:24,484 we know it's gonna be in high demand 355 00:14:24,484 --> 00:14:27,330 and it's gonna be more equipped to adapt 356 00:14:27,330 --> 00:14:30,085 to a real dynamic threat environment. 357 00:14:30,085 --> 00:14:34,350 So with this aircraft, you know, can you talk about some, 358 00:14:34,350 --> 00:14:37,380 how it'll be a little bit easier maybe 359 00:14:37,380 --> 00:14:40,383 to keep pace with the changing threat 360 00:14:40,383 --> 00:14:44,130 than the current EC130, you know, 361 00:14:44,130 --> 00:14:47,850 open systems architecture, plug and play capability, 362 00:14:47,850 --> 00:14:51,630 how does that play into the new variant coming on board? 363 00:14:51,630 --> 00:14:52,463 - Absolutely. 364 00:14:52,463 --> 00:14:55,800 So kinda like we were talking about before with the EC, 365 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,600 big flying transmitter, a lot of cables, 366 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:58,980 you can kind of plug anything in there 367 00:14:58,980 --> 00:15:01,412 as long as it's more or less designed for it, 368 00:15:01,412 --> 00:15:04,500 and then we kind of find out if it works based on testing, 369 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:05,333 stuff like that. 370 00:15:05,333 --> 00:15:10,236 So having our future aircraft have the kind of open the, 371 00:15:10,236 --> 00:15:11,504 can I say Saber? 372 00:15:11,504 --> 00:15:13,560 - Yeah, you say Sabre and Sword. 373 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,209 - So we're gonna have the Sabre architecture 374 00:15:16,209 --> 00:15:18,840 that's gonna eventually become sword, which is, 375 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,760 we can think of it as like an app store, 376 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,830 kind of like you said open architecture. 377 00:15:22,830 --> 00:15:25,530 We can have a lot of different players design stuff for us 378 00:15:25,530 --> 00:15:27,712 that if all of a sudden 379 00:15:27,712 --> 00:15:30,838 country X comes out with this new thing, 380 00:15:30,838 --> 00:15:32,776 whereas it might have taken, 381 00:15:32,776 --> 00:15:34,230 I don't know what the timeline would be, 382 00:15:34,230 --> 00:15:36,157 a lot longer than it would now, they can say like, 383 00:15:36,157 --> 00:15:37,890 "Hey, we can create this waveform, 384 00:15:37,890 --> 00:15:40,140 we can create this package that we know 385 00:15:40,140 --> 00:15:41,670 is going to work with your architecture 386 00:15:41,670 --> 00:15:43,620 and then we can see if that waveform works" 387 00:15:43,620 --> 00:15:45,480 as opposed to seeing if the technology works 388 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,300 and then see if the waveform works. 389 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:48,540 - Yeah, and I can bring it up to a bigger thing too. 390 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:50,250 So, you know, classically speaking, right, 391 00:15:50,250 --> 00:15:51,840 so you and your compadre behind you 392 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,160 have have done this game a lot 393 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,260 in terms of updating jam wing waveforms 394 00:15:55,260 --> 00:15:56,700 and whatever the enemy is creating, 395 00:15:56,700 --> 00:15:58,470 so it's a continual cat and mouse game 396 00:15:58,470 --> 00:16:00,390 of who can do something better first. 397 00:16:00,390 --> 00:16:03,630 And then really speed is what helps, right? 398 00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:05,880 Whoever is able to change with they're doing faster 399 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:07,740 and you hit the nail on the head, right, 400 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:09,665 so open architecture, rapid reprogramming, 401 00:16:09,665 --> 00:16:12,060 things aren't tied down to a very 402 00:16:12,060 --> 00:16:13,403 unique way of doing business, 403 00:16:13,403 --> 00:16:17,565 allows us to adapt to whatever the adversary is doing 404 00:16:17,565 --> 00:16:20,100 and then we can create counters they're doing 405 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:21,150 and just try to get ahead of 'em. 406 00:16:21,150 --> 00:16:23,400 So like I said, Boid said it very well. 407 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,420 So he moves faster, does better. 408 00:16:25,420 --> 00:16:28,290 - Well, and over the last several months, 409 00:16:28,290 --> 00:16:31,050 we've had the opportunity to go down to Warner Robins 410 00:16:31,050 --> 00:16:33,540 to engage the 350 spectrum warfare airway. 411 00:16:33,540 --> 00:16:34,740 We've been really impressed 412 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:36,690 with the steps the Air Force has taken 413 00:16:36,690 --> 00:16:40,382 to really improve its capabilities in the EW space. 414 00:16:40,382 --> 00:16:44,100 That's got to give you at least a good feeling 415 00:16:44,100 --> 00:16:47,377 as the EA-37B arrives. 416 00:16:47,377 --> 00:16:52,330 The Air Force understands a lot better today the need for EW 417 00:16:53,430 --> 00:16:55,767 than maybe some of the years past. 418 00:16:55,767 --> 00:16:59,340 And how has 350th and some of the other changes 419 00:16:59,340 --> 00:17:02,400 that have happened at the Air Force helped this transition? 420 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:03,450 - I'm gonna add some color on this, 421 00:17:03,450 --> 00:17:06,462 your statement about 350 is, so you're a 100% right, 422 00:17:06,462 --> 00:17:08,463 the Air Force is reinventing itself 423 00:17:08,463 --> 00:17:10,350 a little bit (indistinct) world, right? 424 00:17:10,350 --> 00:17:12,780 I think we're still recovering from fighting coin 425 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:15,930 for a long time, but we still have a long ways to go. 426 00:17:15,930 --> 00:17:17,340 So we're creating a lot of organizations 427 00:17:17,340 --> 00:17:19,350 that like 350 Spectrum warfare wing. 428 00:17:19,350 --> 00:17:20,190 Great. 429 00:17:20,190 --> 00:17:25,110 But the amount of EW professionals out there is smaller. 430 00:17:25,110 --> 00:17:28,131 So my original airframe, AC-130 gunship, 431 00:17:28,131 --> 00:17:29,825 EWO doesn't exist on that anymore. 432 00:17:29,825 --> 00:17:32,550 B-52 is getting rid of their EWO-2. 433 00:17:32,550 --> 00:17:36,921 So we are creating organizations that will foster advances 434 00:17:36,921 --> 00:17:38,400 (upbeat abient music) and keeping pace 435 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,610 with our pacing threats, but we're still a long ways to go 436 00:17:41,610 --> 00:17:43,844 in building the professionals to do that. 437 00:17:43,844 --> 00:17:45,090 And to be honest with you, Compass Calls 438 00:17:45,090 --> 00:17:46,860 is probably one of the founding areas for that. 439 00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:49,301 Since BT-2 doesn't have an EWO, (indistinct), 440 00:17:49,301 --> 00:17:51,309 B1s are going away. 441 00:17:51,309 --> 00:17:55,410 So your professional EWOisms really are coming from the RJ 442 00:17:55,410 --> 00:17:57,003 and from the Compass Call. 443 00:17:58,647 --> 00:18:00,300 (upbeat ambient music) 444 00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:01,350 - That gets me into the next question, 445 00:18:01,350 --> 00:18:04,219 I wanna talk a little bit about the training challenges. 446 00:18:04,219 --> 00:18:06,722 Could you talk a little bit about how the roles 447 00:18:06,722 --> 00:18:08,520 of the air crew changes 448 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,340 and how you're addressing some of the training challenges 449 00:18:11,340 --> 00:18:13,620 that arise from taking, 450 00:18:13,620 --> 00:18:16,115 the personnel from one aircraft into another 451 00:18:16,115 --> 00:18:18,390 from in terms of roles and responsibilities 452 00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:22,431 and then how are you tackling the training challenge? 453 00:18:22,431 --> 00:18:24,510 - Yeah, so that's a kind of an evolving thing 454 00:18:24,510 --> 00:18:27,512 between the new EC-1, EA-37, 455 00:18:27,512 --> 00:18:29,640 - It's good to know that we both do that. 456 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:30,870 - Yeah. (everyone laughing) 457 00:18:30,870 --> 00:18:32,254 What's in the letter, right? 458 00:18:32,254 --> 00:18:33,663 A lot of work actually. 459 00:18:33,663 --> 00:18:35,010 - A lot of work under the letter. 460 00:18:35,010 --> 00:18:37,260 That's something, a continuing discussion we have about that 461 00:18:37,260 --> 00:18:40,140 when baseline three comes online and then baseline four 462 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:41,460 'cause like you said, perfectly, 463 00:18:41,460 --> 00:18:43,776 smaller crew relying on technology. 464 00:18:43,776 --> 00:18:46,565 A lot of cool things we're doing to help with that. 465 00:18:46,565 --> 00:18:48,720 But actually I think you guys over at the bat's 466 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:49,650 probably a little more than I do 467 00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:51,322 of how we're mitigating the smaller crew, 468 00:18:51,322 --> 00:18:54,390 which is much smaller and current. 469 00:18:54,390 --> 00:18:55,223 - Sure, yeah. 470 00:18:55,223 --> 00:18:58,470 So one of the big things in the EC-130, 471 00:18:58,470 --> 00:19:01,680 we have a very analog system for talking to each other, 472 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:02,730 we have set channels 473 00:19:02,730 --> 00:19:05,370 where you can only talk to specific crew members, 474 00:19:05,370 --> 00:19:07,380 which kind of made the navigator, 475 00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:09,605 which is gonna go away into a crucial 476 00:19:09,605 --> 00:19:12,180 piece between the flight deck 477 00:19:12,180 --> 00:19:13,462 and the mission crew in the back. 478 00:19:13,462 --> 00:19:15,090 So my understanding is we're gonna have 479 00:19:15,090 --> 00:19:17,850 all digital intercom for everyone 480 00:19:17,850 --> 00:19:19,644 so you can set up specific channels between 481 00:19:19,644 --> 00:19:22,920 just the mission crew commander and the pilot for example, 482 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,620 if you want need to have that back and forth as opposed to 483 00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:27,120 needing to go through different people. 484 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:29,582 So I think we're using technology in that way to 485 00:19:29,582 --> 00:19:33,090 kind of increase our resource management 486 00:19:33,090 --> 00:19:35,430 and make sure that that's working more efficiently. 487 00:19:35,430 --> 00:19:36,930 - And next, actually I can touch on too, 488 00:19:36,930 --> 00:19:38,520 so my extra perspective, 489 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,650 so remember I was like came from Gunships, 490 00:19:40,650 --> 00:19:41,483 and in that, 491 00:19:41,483 --> 00:19:44,150 the front end, back end all fighting together. 492 00:19:44,150 --> 00:19:48,120 And so, unless opposed to currently with the EC-130, 493 00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:49,200 there's a bit of a wall 494 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:50,850 between the front end and the back end. 495 00:19:50,850 --> 00:19:52,560 And then to make better use of the entire crew 496 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,210 is integrating everyone together. 497 00:19:54,210 --> 00:19:55,100 So they're all fighting the same fight 498 00:19:55,100 --> 00:19:57,840 on the same basically fires net if you will. 499 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,300 So like I said, I did a lot of real world fires, 500 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:04,200 but in this, the Compass Call, whether the E-C130, EEA 37 501 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:05,250 is electronic fires 502 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:08,087 and the solution to really having a smaller crew 503 00:20:08,087 --> 00:20:09,270 is better integration 504 00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,587 with the smaller amount of people you have. 505 00:20:11,587 --> 00:20:12,840 And like I said, the new aircraft will help that a lot. 506 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,512 I've seen the new ISCS system, it's pretty neat. 507 00:20:15,512 --> 00:20:16,345 - Really? 508 00:20:16,345 --> 00:20:17,522 Okay. 509 00:20:17,522 --> 00:20:18,528 - Yeah, I think it's story out some bugs, 510 00:20:18,528 --> 00:20:19,361 but you can call individual stations, create subnets. 511 00:20:19,361 --> 00:20:20,194 It's pretty cool. 512 00:20:20,194 --> 00:20:21,360 - I wanna bring in our senior analyst, 513 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:23,670 Matt Thompson for a question on this. 514 00:20:23,670 --> 00:20:24,690 - Yeah, so I just wanna go back to something 515 00:20:24,690 --> 00:20:26,730 that you kind of were talking about earlier 516 00:20:26,730 --> 00:20:28,710 and just kind of, I asked the question a different way. 517 00:20:28,710 --> 00:20:31,320 So I think sometimes it's easy to overlook just 518 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,360 the benefits of getting in the new car. 519 00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:36,540 So when Ken Earl asked earlier like, 520 00:20:36,540 --> 00:20:37,950 what are you most excited about? 521 00:20:37,950 --> 00:20:40,074 Like I think we're talking about at that level, 522 00:20:40,074 --> 00:20:43,170 new platform, shiny new toy, 523 00:20:43,170 --> 00:20:44,460 getting outta something that's 524 00:20:44,460 --> 00:20:46,980 probably been flying for a 1000 hours 525 00:20:46,980 --> 00:20:48,120 before you were born. 526 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:50,040 Like, what kinda excitement 527 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,745 do you have on those kind of things. 528 00:20:51,745 --> 00:20:54,300 - Yeah, so that's definitely exciting 529 00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:55,830 and I think it kind of goes back to 530 00:20:55,830 --> 00:20:57,780 how the Air Force is posturing itself too. 531 00:20:57,780 --> 00:21:00,870 It definitely makes me, as someone, 532 00:21:00,870 --> 00:21:03,462 new to the Air Force, new to EW, feel like 533 00:21:03,462 --> 00:21:05,168 we're valued, we're important, 534 00:21:05,168 --> 00:21:07,337 it's something that they care about. 535 00:21:07,337 --> 00:21:11,043 So having that just belief in us 536 00:21:11,043 --> 00:21:13,170 that we can get this new platform. 537 00:21:13,170 --> 00:21:15,960 I mean, yeah, it is just cool to have, it's gonna be cool 538 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:17,310 to have the newest platform in the Air Force. 539 00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:19,380 Like that's not anything I ever thought, 540 00:21:19,380 --> 00:21:23,640 and it's honestly so contrary to how this community 541 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,130 has been for the last 40 years 542 00:21:26,130 --> 00:21:28,955 where we're one of the oldest platforms at this point. 543 00:21:28,955 --> 00:21:33,060 So I think we're used to just like doing our best, 544 00:21:33,060 --> 00:21:34,740 getting along with whatever we have to, 545 00:21:34,740 --> 00:21:36,810 which I think is gonna be a really good mindset 546 00:21:36,810 --> 00:21:39,480 moving forward that we can have that perseverance 547 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,540 whilst having an even better maintenance rate. 548 00:21:42,540 --> 00:21:44,657 - So when I was first introduced to the Compass Call, 549 00:21:44,657 --> 00:21:46,950 it was probably, well, I wanna say late 90s, 550 00:21:46,950 --> 00:21:50,520 2000 timeframe when I was on Capitol Hill, 551 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:52,320 and we used to put together these 552 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,470 Compass Call awareness days, which were fantastic events. 553 00:21:55,470 --> 00:21:57,810 You know, we had the people come out to brief. 554 00:21:57,810 --> 00:21:59,127 Eventually then we also, 555 00:21:59,127 --> 00:22:02,460 we were able to actually get an airframe from Davis Mountain 556 00:22:02,460 --> 00:22:05,070 to come out to Andrews, park at Andrews, 557 00:22:05,070 --> 00:22:07,320 have tours and talk with the crew. 558 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:08,850 And I always found that that was 559 00:22:08,850 --> 00:22:10,639 some of the most interesting times, 560 00:22:10,639 --> 00:22:14,700 and since then have always enjoyed engaging the crew 561 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:16,290 and engaging the community. 562 00:22:16,290 --> 00:22:18,041 Really appreciate the job that you do. 563 00:22:18,041 --> 00:22:19,745 Could you tell us a little bit about 564 00:22:19,745 --> 00:22:24,390 just serving in the community from a human perspective, 565 00:22:24,390 --> 00:22:26,397 just from a service member perspective, 566 00:22:26,397 --> 00:22:29,959 what it's like to be a part of the Compass Call community, 567 00:22:29,959 --> 00:22:33,660 where you're at today and kind of where that's gonna go here 568 00:22:33,660 --> 00:22:36,600 as the new 37 model comes in? 569 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:37,433 - Sure, yeah. 570 00:22:37,433 --> 00:22:39,030 So we're gonna have a smaller crew. 571 00:22:39,030 --> 00:22:40,770 We'll be missing some of our folks 572 00:22:40,770 --> 00:22:42,330 that have been around here for a long time, 573 00:22:42,330 --> 00:22:45,420 navs, flight engineers, that kind of stuff. 574 00:22:45,420 --> 00:22:48,060 But to me at least it feels kinda like a family 575 00:22:48,060 --> 00:22:50,190 just 'cause this is the only place we are, 576 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:52,230 people stick around here for a long time. 577 00:22:52,230 --> 00:22:54,273 - And because it's such a specialty, 578 00:22:55,256 --> 00:22:57,180 there's quite a few I would imagine 579 00:22:57,180 --> 00:23:00,342 that start and end a career right here at Davis Monthan. 580 00:23:00,342 --> 00:23:01,539 - Absolutely, yeah, 581 00:23:01,539 --> 00:23:04,470 it's not uncommon for people to start here, 582 00:23:04,470 --> 00:23:05,940 go do a staff tour and come back here. 583 00:23:05,940 --> 00:23:09,045 So yeah, there's definitely a lot of experience 584 00:23:09,045 --> 00:23:12,810 and beings that EW is so kind of niche. 585 00:23:12,810 --> 00:23:15,378 Obviously there's other platforms that have like EW pods 586 00:23:15,378 --> 00:23:16,890 and stuff like that that'll do, 587 00:23:16,890 --> 00:23:18,780 but I understand it's more of like a 588 00:23:18,780 --> 00:23:20,010 set it and forget it type of thing. 589 00:23:20,010 --> 00:23:23,070 So the fact that we have to be so active in the process 590 00:23:23,070 --> 00:23:26,700 kind of makes us feel like more connected I guess 591 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:28,248 in that we're like, listen, 592 00:23:28,248 --> 00:23:30,240 we're the kind of the only people that do this, 593 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:31,620 at least on the Air Force side, 594 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:33,060 obviously there's the growlers. 595 00:23:33,060 --> 00:23:36,480 So I think that makes us feel like we need to do a good job 596 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,126 and that we're kind of in our own little niche over here. 597 00:23:39,126 --> 00:23:41,263 - You come out here, you look at the numbers 598 00:23:41,263 --> 00:23:43,770 and you're like, wow, there's 800 plus people 599 00:23:43,770 --> 00:23:46,620 as part of the detachment or the group here. 600 00:23:46,620 --> 00:23:47,550 Seems like a lot, 601 00:23:47,550 --> 00:23:51,367 but obviously your operational tempo is tremendous, 602 00:23:51,367 --> 00:23:55,422 you always have new tasks that you have to respond to, 603 00:23:55,422 --> 00:23:57,660 not enough people, quite frankly. 604 00:23:57,660 --> 00:24:00,240 So could you tell us a little bit about how, 605 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:03,060 maybe give us some insight just generally speaking 606 00:24:03,060 --> 00:24:06,944 in terms of how often are, do you deploy or, 607 00:24:06,944 --> 00:24:11,605 and what is a typical, like take us inside the, 608 00:24:11,605 --> 00:24:14,430 again, from a service member perspective, 609 00:24:14,430 --> 00:24:15,537 not from a technical perspective, 610 00:24:15,537 --> 00:24:19,680 but just take us into the back of the EC-130 here 611 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:21,270 to talk about like who's back there 612 00:24:21,270 --> 00:24:24,300 and who is a part of your team? 613 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:25,133 - Sure, yeah. 614 00:24:25,133 --> 00:24:27,180 So typical deployment for us 615 00:24:27,180 --> 00:24:29,400 is just total case by case basis. 616 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,346 Usually it comes totally outta the blue, 617 00:24:32,346 --> 00:24:36,930 so and so wants you to do this thing at this place, right. 618 00:24:36,930 --> 00:24:39,750 So usually it's a kinda a process 619 00:24:39,750 --> 00:24:41,347 of like senior leadership deciding like, 620 00:24:41,347 --> 00:24:42,870 "Hey, can we do this?" 621 00:24:42,870 --> 00:24:45,598 As far as like the human service member perspective, 622 00:24:45,598 --> 00:24:49,620 we have our times that we know we're up for deployment, so, 623 00:24:49,620 --> 00:24:52,080 and we can see who's gonna be on our crew. 624 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,030 So it's definitely a small enough community 625 00:24:54,030 --> 00:24:57,869 that you know everybody for sure, especially all the flyers, 626 00:24:57,869 --> 00:25:00,600 outta that 800, I don't even wanna guess, 627 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,240 but like it's a smaller percentage of that for sure. 628 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,340 So having that opportunity 629 00:25:05,340 --> 00:25:07,410 to fly with pretty much everybody, 630 00:25:07,410 --> 00:25:10,260 probably at least once a week, you fly with a few people. 631 00:25:10,260 --> 00:25:12,660 So we don't do hard crews here when we train, 632 00:25:12,660 --> 00:25:13,830 but when we deploy we do. 633 00:25:13,830 --> 00:25:14,663 So. 634 00:25:14,663 --> 00:25:15,540 - There's two operational squadrons here, 635 00:25:15,540 --> 00:25:17,460 the 41st and the 43rd. 636 00:25:17,460 --> 00:25:18,960 When I was out here the last time, 637 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,180 spent the day with the 43rd, 638 00:25:21,180 --> 00:25:23,100 spending most of the time here over the 41st. 639 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:25,650 You Lieutenant lieutenant are from the 43rd 640 00:25:25,650 --> 00:25:27,194 as I've just realized. 641 00:25:27,194 --> 00:25:29,760 So welcome here to the other side here. 642 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:31,710 But could you tell us a little bit about the differences 643 00:25:31,710 --> 00:25:33,210 between the operational squadrons, 644 00:25:33,210 --> 00:25:35,100 kind of how the duties break down 645 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:40,050 or just kind of how the squadrons are organized here? 646 00:25:40,050 --> 00:25:40,883 - Yeah, absolutely. 647 00:25:40,883 --> 00:25:45,620 So flight deck as in pilots, flight engineers, navs, EWOs 648 00:25:46,590 --> 00:25:48,533 are all essentially agnostic. 649 00:25:48,533 --> 00:25:51,900 You can be, we don't break it apart that way. 650 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:55,680 So we still have set all those crew positions per squadron. 651 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,650 But the big breakdown is definitely the AOR focus. 652 00:25:58,650 --> 00:26:03,240 So the 41st has more of like the CENTCOM type languages, 653 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,060 as well as Russian, and then the 43rd 654 00:26:06,060 --> 00:26:08,280 focuses on Indo Paycom and Southcom. 655 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:11,610 So while the EWOs are agnostic, preach Squadron, 656 00:26:11,610 --> 00:26:13,467 we definitely have more of a focus on like, 657 00:26:13,467 --> 00:26:16,911 the 43rd members will know more about Endo Paycom systems 658 00:26:16,911 --> 00:26:20,370 and then the 41st will know more about Centcom. 659 00:26:20,370 --> 00:26:23,340 So when we deploy, it doesn't necessarily work that way 660 00:26:23,340 --> 00:26:24,690 other than the linguists, 661 00:26:24,690 --> 00:26:27,030 but that's kind of how it's supposed to be broken down 662 00:26:27,030 --> 00:26:30,480 if for some reason we had to support two different AORs. 663 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:31,313 - Great. 664 00:26:31,313 --> 00:26:34,710 And just to wrap up, a couple last questions here 665 00:26:34,710 --> 00:26:37,830 from just an education and awareness standpoint 666 00:26:37,830 --> 00:26:40,560 because from the Gross Nest year we get about 667 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,494 five, 6,000 downloads a month, 668 00:26:43,494 --> 00:26:45,412 a lot of new listeners each month. 669 00:26:45,412 --> 00:26:49,590 What do you want our audience to know about who you are, 670 00:26:49,590 --> 00:26:52,980 what you do, and kind of where you're going with 671 00:26:52,980 --> 00:26:55,770 obviously with the new variant coming on board? 672 00:26:55,770 --> 00:26:58,620 - So I guess the biggest thing right is that we are 673 00:26:58,620 --> 00:27:02,250 the Air force's only manned electronic attack asset, 674 00:27:02,250 --> 00:27:05,874 and we fill a crucial role in MSOG/EMSO 675 00:27:05,874 --> 00:27:10,470 supporting blue forces and denying red advantages, right. 676 00:27:10,470 --> 00:27:12,900 So like in open media, right, 677 00:27:12,900 --> 00:27:15,480 B-31 gets a lot of press, 678 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:16,860 F-35 gets a lot of press, 679 00:27:16,860 --> 00:27:18,780 but they don't operate on their own. 680 00:27:18,780 --> 00:27:21,780 And the Compass Call serves a key role 681 00:27:21,780 --> 00:27:24,210 in that larger fight across the DOD, 682 00:27:24,210 --> 00:27:25,680 not just in the Air Force. 683 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,010 And so like even the Growler, they are good at things, 684 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:29,967 we're good at other things, 685 00:27:29,967 --> 00:27:31,950 and we're a big part of the joint fight 686 00:27:31,950 --> 00:27:33,670 and capabilities we develop 687 00:27:33,670 --> 00:27:36,090 are ones that are helping out everyone else 688 00:27:36,090 --> 00:27:37,500 across the spectrum of warfare. 689 00:27:37,500 --> 00:27:39,630 Like I said, we spend a lot of time in coin, 690 00:27:39,630 --> 00:27:40,740 got really good at that, 691 00:27:40,740 --> 00:27:42,480 and right now we're regenerate our capabilities 692 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,060 for that massive force on force, 693 00:27:45,060 --> 00:27:46,830 the army would say full boogie warfare 694 00:27:46,830 --> 00:27:47,790 is what they would call. 695 00:27:47,790 --> 00:27:49,860 But that's what we're kind of driving for now, 696 00:27:49,860 --> 00:27:52,800 to get us all modernized up and one need to 697 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:55,230 fight against people that might outnumber us. 698 00:27:55,230 --> 00:27:57,595 And so we can take our technological advantages ahead 699 00:27:57,595 --> 00:27:59,592 and win the fight. 700 00:27:59,592 --> 00:28:01,680 - And from the Crows Nest podcast obviously 701 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,780 is a product of the association of All Crows. 702 00:28:03,780 --> 00:28:07,260 So what can the association do to help you in this effort? 703 00:28:07,260 --> 00:28:09,455 - So advocacy is huge, right? 704 00:28:09,455 --> 00:28:12,420 I've always said that if you wanna win any argument, 705 00:28:12,420 --> 00:28:13,770 you have a lot of friends 706 00:28:13,770 --> 00:28:15,718 and if you socialize enough things widely, 707 00:28:15,718 --> 00:28:17,340 then things change, right? 708 00:28:17,340 --> 00:28:18,660 One loud voice is okay, 709 00:28:18,660 --> 00:28:20,130 but if all everyone's yelling at the same message, 710 00:28:20,130 --> 00:28:21,090 it's even better. 711 00:28:21,090 --> 00:28:23,018 So I think we've hint on it before, 712 00:28:23,018 --> 00:28:26,243 training is a important thing, 713 00:28:26,243 --> 00:28:28,740 and the Air Force, I would say maybe the entire military 714 00:28:28,740 --> 00:28:30,120 forgets about this sometimes 715 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:32,970 is building that infrastructure for good training. 716 00:28:32,970 --> 00:28:35,100 I have an old saying that sometimes you've got toys 717 00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:36,810 and sometimes you've got tools, 718 00:28:36,810 --> 00:28:38,340 toys are cool, you need capabilities, 719 00:28:38,340 --> 00:28:39,559 a few people know how to use. 720 00:28:39,559 --> 00:28:41,760 Tools are things that are well trained to 721 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:43,770 when you have the infrastructure to train to it. 722 00:28:43,770 --> 00:28:45,447 And that's where we really need help, to be honest with you, 723 00:28:45,447 --> 00:28:47,700 and the helping with the advocacy piece. 724 00:28:47,700 --> 00:28:49,244 From the front back, pilots, 725 00:28:49,244 --> 00:28:51,150 sometimes they're forgotten about this community, 726 00:28:51,150 --> 00:28:52,320 nothing against you guys, 727 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,950 but we're trying many efforts through ACC 728 00:28:55,950 --> 00:28:59,760 and then half to get us say WST is a weapon system trainer 729 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:01,530 for the front end for the new aircraft 730 00:29:01,530 --> 00:29:02,910 so that our pilots are proficient 731 00:29:02,910 --> 00:29:04,530 and we can take the aircraft anywhere. 732 00:29:04,530 --> 00:29:07,080 And for the back end, we have a semial line, 733 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,558 but it needs to keep pace with the aircraft. 734 00:29:09,558 --> 00:29:11,481 We kind of talked earlier about keeping pace 735 00:29:11,481 --> 00:29:14,580 with our enemies, but to make sure that we as humans 736 00:29:14,580 --> 00:29:18,180 can do that, our training tools have to keep pace. 737 00:29:18,180 --> 00:29:20,400 That's something we help with too is showing that 738 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,190 just one and done isn't gonna do it, 739 00:29:23,190 --> 00:29:25,080 that we gotta be able to keep pace in palm 740 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,410 for it appropriately so the money flows and resources come. 741 00:29:28,410 --> 00:29:30,000 So that's some of the biggest thing is 742 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:31,620 helping us build our infrastructure 743 00:29:31,620 --> 00:29:33,540 for training for the entire aircraft, 744 00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:35,010 so we support the DOB. 745 00:29:35,010 --> 00:29:36,090 - Yeah, I would just say for that, 746 00:29:36,090 --> 00:29:38,070 just kinda like you were saying, the idea that like, 747 00:29:38,070 --> 00:29:40,080 hey, it's funded cool, we're good for EW, 748 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:41,850 like move on, go find the next thing. 749 00:29:41,850 --> 00:29:43,530 But you know, as we've mentioned, 750 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:46,140 it's a cat and mouse thing, it's constantly evolving. 751 00:29:46,140 --> 00:29:48,540 So just realizing that it's not gonna be 752 00:29:48,540 --> 00:29:50,460 a one and done thing and then, you know, 753 00:29:50,460 --> 00:29:54,000 just education as far as what we do 754 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:55,350 because even a lot of people in the Air Force 755 00:29:55,350 --> 00:29:56,970 don't really understand what we do 756 00:29:56,970 --> 00:29:58,500 or think we can do everything at once 757 00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:01,500 or think that we can be in every AOR at every time 758 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:03,157 and maybe someday, 759 00:30:03,157 --> 00:30:05,241 with enough aircraft we'd be able to do that. 760 00:30:05,241 --> 00:30:08,138 But as currently planned and funded, 761 00:30:08,138 --> 00:30:10,950 we're still gonna be a very limited resource 762 00:30:10,950 --> 00:30:13,423 as far as where we can be at one time. 763 00:30:13,423 --> 00:30:14,910 - And that's a valid point, 764 00:30:14,910 --> 00:30:16,350 so kind of referring back to other 765 00:30:16,350 --> 00:30:17,983 similar open source discussions, right? 766 00:30:17,983 --> 00:30:20,758 So you see B-21 all over the headlines 767 00:30:20,758 --> 00:30:23,340 and the headline is we need more B-21. 768 00:30:23,340 --> 00:30:26,190 I would say the same for the EA-37 Bravo. 769 00:30:26,190 --> 00:30:27,720 Need more of that to cover 770 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,190 both sides of the world if need be, 771 00:30:29,190 --> 00:30:31,399 or even just for one fight having more 772 00:30:31,399 --> 00:30:33,279 so we can sustain the joint force. 773 00:30:33,279 --> 00:30:36,420 - Lieutenant Colonel Palchick and Lieutenant Schultz, 774 00:30:36,420 --> 00:30:38,610 I really greatly appreciate you taking time 775 00:30:38,610 --> 00:30:41,053 outta your busy schedule joining me. 776 00:30:41,053 --> 00:30:42,822 I'll let you get back to your day 777 00:30:42,822 --> 00:30:44,071 and I really appreciate you joining me here, 778 00:30:44,071 --> 00:30:45,075 (upbeat ambient music) I'm From the Crows Nest. 779 00:30:45,075 --> 00:30:46,320 Thank you very much. 780 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,480 That will conclude this episode of From the Crows Nest. 781 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:49,313 I want to thank my guest, 782 00:30:49,313 --> 00:30:51,638 Dr. David (indistinct) for joining me. 783 00:30:51,638 --> 00:30:54,900 Again, if you're an AOC member, look for an email 784 00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:57,390 with information on how to join our next recording 785 00:30:57,390 --> 00:30:59,651 of our bonus subscription episode next week. 786 00:30:59,651 --> 00:31:01,050 If you're not an AOC member, 787 00:31:01,050 --> 00:31:02,790 you can still access that episode 788 00:31:02,790 --> 00:31:04,830 when it is released next Wednesday. 789 00:31:04,830 --> 00:31:07,050 Also, please take a moment to review, share, 790 00:31:07,050 --> 00:31:08,520 and follow our show. 791 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:10,440 We always enjoy hearing from our listeners, 792 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:12,480 so please let us know how we're doing. 793 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,580 That's it for today, thanks for listening.