CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE TAJI, Iraq, - While Soldiers go about their daily lives on Contingency Operating Base Taji, Iraq, something is watching over them. An Aerostat blimp, operated by Soldiers from B Troop, Regimental Troop Squadron of the Tennessee National Guard’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), has cameras trained on the action below.
The blimp plays an important role in base defense, said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Thornsberry, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the Aerostat system with the 278th ACR. “We actively … provide overwatch for units that are outside the wire.”
“This has been one of the more interesting things I’ve done, because it gives you a chance to be a little more proactive,” said Spc. Mark McCann, an Aerostat operator with the 278th ACR. “We can scan ahead of convoys and see what’s going on ahead of them, and we can talk to them and warn them of what’s out there.”
Before the blimp can be operated, the crew runs through an extensive preflight checklist, similar to a regular aircraft, Thornsberry said. When the blimp is released from its docking station, the Aerostat crew members all work specific roles, keeping the blimp level in the air.
“It’s very time consuming, and everything moves very fast,” Thornsberry said. “You have to know what everyone is doing. It’s like an orchestra, where the conductor is up there directing the music. It’s the same thing getting this piece of equipment off the ground.”
After the blimp reaches its flying height, crew members can operate the system’s various cameras, scanning the area around COB Taji.
“There’s no such thing as a typical day here,” McCann said. “Mostly though, we watch out for the troops, and keep an eye on the bad guys.”
Thornsberry said being a member of the Aerostat team means spending long hours watching the camera monitors, but the group functions well.
“Most of us have been together for several years, and some got added during the deployment,” he said. “We work (long) shifts, so we’ve all gotten to know each other pretty well.”
“We’re all older guys,” McCann added. “We’re all National Guard, and we all have civilian jobs. We just have a lot of experience. We mesh really well as a team. It’s a lot of fun.”
Despite the long hours, the members of the 278th ACR’s Aerostat team enjoy their work, knowing they are playing an important part in helping protect COB Taji.
“This (job) is the best-kept secret,” Thornsberry said. “We’re supporting the troops, and we’re supporting base operations. People can sleep better at night knowing that we have an overwatch, and we’re keeping an eye out for their safety. It’s the best job I’ve had.”