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Working around the clock: 612th SPTS

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Adam Grant
  • 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, Ariz. --  On a day-to-day basis, members of Davis-Monthan AFB drive by what appears to be a normal building on the outside. Those who work in this building understand that the work conducted there is crucial in supporting of one the world's largest ongoing tasks.

The 612th Support Squadron's primary mission is to support the United States Southern Command's ongoing task of Countering Transnational Organized Crime in Central and South America.

The 612th SPTS's history dates back to January 1998, when the 612th Air Support and Operations Squadron realigned under 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern).

Since then, the squadron has stood up two flights to fulfill distinct roles in support of AFSOUTH and USSOUTHCOM. The Forward Operating Location Flight and Operational Weather Flight both provide superior support to the war fighter down range.

The FOL flight has the responsibility of providing logistical support, airfield ops, facilities, transportation, supply, housing and subsistence to the five FOLs in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean Islands.

"We ensure that members in our area of operations are able to focus directly on the mission, because we ensure everything else is squared away," said Maj. Michael Catalano, 612th SPTS FOL flight commander.

Recently the efforts of the FOL flight were instrumental in getting a well needed program off the ground for the 612th Air Base, in Honduras.

"The 612 SPTS provides outstanding support, the most recent was during the end of year closeout, without their support we wouldn't have been able to get as much as we did. The money we received was instrumental in getting our Crash, Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) program started," said Lt. Col Sergio Vega, 612th Air Base Commander.

Conducting operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the safety of personnel and assets is the responsibility of the Operational Weather Flight.

The OWF is responsible for continuously analyzing and interpreting environmental weather data for Department of Defense assets operating in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean Islands. They also provide weather coordination with the 612th Air and Space Operations Center, co-located on Davis-Monthan AFB, and the Puerto Rico air and army national guard.

"The OWF produces over 5,200 weather forecast products per month, including but not limited to Flight Weather Mission Execution Forecasts, Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts and Graphical Depictions characterizing daily weather and flight hazards, as well as bulletin statements," said Master Sgt. Joel Decker, 612th SPTS weather flight chief.

The OWF also issues weather watches, warnings and advisories protecting personnel and assets across a 15.6 million square mile radius.

Working around the clock, members of the 612th SPTS have and will continue to take an active role in Countering Transnational Organized Crime in Central and South America.