ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — In a combat situation, there is not always a perfectly placed runway or a convenient air traffic control tower. That is where the Combat Airfield Operations Squadron, or CAOS, comes into play.
"We're looking for security threats," says Tech Sergeant Adam Morgan. "We're looking to make sure that the landing surface is okay to land , no potholes or ruts. We're going to make sure the controlling areas where the aircraft is coming in, there's no major obstacles."
They often make their way to the Perry Airport to help them practice in a non-military environment. Part of their drills include communicating with small, local planes, but the Perry Airport recently got the all-clear for C-130 landings to help with their training too.
"We can practice out here before we have to go do it down range," says Tech Sergeant Morgan.
The team also trains back on Robins Air Force Base, setting up, taking down, and maintaining their equipment.
"We train every day, all of our maintainers and air traffic controllers, so that way at any point in time, we can roll out with our systems," says Master Sergeant Marcus Allen-Hall.
From their mobile air traffic control tower to a device that acts like a lighthouse for pilots, they can pack it all up and set up a safe place to land anywhere in the world within 72 hours.
Their equipment may be small, but CAOS' impact is not.
"We are one of very few Air Force units that trains to deploy to austere, contested environments, as well as supporting humanitarian missions," says Master Sergeant Allen-Hall.
He says his team even stayed on-call in case they were needed in areas hardest hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.