Reconnaissance aircraft and about 2,000 observers are expected to monitor progress in the region.
Still, maintenance personnel from the 510th Fighter Squadron and other similar units here continue to keep aircraft flying, just in case. Maintenance teams, fuels specialists and weapons loaders work on "quick-turns" -- improving on the concept of servicing incoming F-16s so they can quickly take to the air once more.
"During normal day-to-day flying, we have about two hours to get a plane ready for the next mission. If something were to happen, like let's say (an operation in) Kosovo, we'd have 45 minutes to an hour to do the same job," said Senior Master Sgt. Alex Suarez, 510th Fighter Squadron sortie support superintendent.
"This includes refueling and re-arming the aircraft, a brief inspection, and go," he said. "We're always practicing our trade, refining our skills to prepare ourselves to do the things we're called upon to do."
Phase, or bringing an aircraft in for a 200-flying hour tune-up, is another way maintainers keep a fleet of fighters ready for any contingency. "Call it preventive maintenance," Suarez said.
"We don't need jets backed up in phase because they don't have any hours left to fly," he said. "We've definitely stepped it up. We're thinking ahead and preparing to make sure all our aircraft have the flying hours needed to accomplish the mission."
Maintainers will tear the plane apart, and take a good look at the engine. And according to Suarez, they look in every nook and cranny for signs of metal fatigue, electrical wire chaffing and foreign objects that could damage an aircraft in flight.
"It's hard work," Suarez said, "but if our government and the American public think this is important, then we're behind it 100 percent."
"Although our airmen are used to the pace, they are doing more with less. It is painful sometimes but they are professionals. They'll do what needs to be done," he said. "Just let me say that if you like TDYs (temporary duty assignments) and deployments, this is definitely the place to be."
Still, many people opt not to re-enlist when their Air Force commitment is over, Suarez said. "I just wish we could offer them more of an incentive to stay with us.
"We have our commitments -- operations over Bosnia, Operation Northern Watch, and other NATO missions. We also continue to have the daily flying operation," he said. "That's the way it is. Somehow, we've always managed to fit everything in there somewhere." (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)
