[MilCom] Fwd: [MilRadioComms] SuperBowl overflight

[AllanStern at aol.com]

US military prepares to support Super Bowl  XLIV
  By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
 
    As the excitement builds in the minutes before the  Super Bowl 
kick-off, four Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter jets will scream  over Miami's 
Sun Life Stadium in a dramatic show of military support for the big  game.
    The F-15s - from the Florida Air National  Guard's 125th Fighter Wing - 
will time their fly-over to begin just as  country music superstar Carrie 
Underwood belts out the last note of the National  Anthem, reported USAF Lt 
Col Richard Bittner, the 125FW's public affairs  officer.
    USAF Lt Col John Black, who goes by the callsign  "Homer," will lead 
the formation, followed by Wing Commander Col Bob "Squirt"  Branyon Lt Col 
Mike "Speedo" Rouse, the 159FS's commander, will be in position  three, with 
Col Bill Bair, commander of the 125FW's operations group, holding up  the rear.
    After the pilots land at nearby Homestead Air  Reserve Base, a 
Miami-Dade Police helo will whisk them back to the stadium,  where they'll be 
introduced to the crowd, Bittner  said. 
The Super Bowl fly-over is a first for  the Air National Guard. The wing 
has done fly-overs for other National Football  League events, most frequently 
over Jaguars games near its Jacksonville IAP. But  Bittner said there's a 
special panache that comes with flying over the big daddy  of football games. 
"It's a huge honor," he said, calling it a recognition of the  wing's 
impressive operational readiness posture, and its 24/7 mission of being  ready to 
scramble at a moment's notice to protect US air space.
    The fly-over is just part of the military support  being provided as 
the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts do battle during  Super Bowl 
XLIV. The Armed Forces Color Guard from the Military District of  Washington 
will kick off that support, marching onto the field before the game  to 
present the colors, accompanied by two drummers from US Air Force  Band. 
    Meanwhile, as more than 75,000 fans enjoy the  sold-out game, military 
forces will be at work behind the scenes, supporting  civil authorities to 
maintain security in and around the stadium and in the  skies overhead.
    Fighter jets from the Continental US North  American Aerospace Defense 
Command Region will be airborne, working in  coordination with the FBI, US 
Customs and Border Protection, FAA and local  law enforcement to enforce 
flight restrictions over Miami during the game,  reported its commander, USAF 
Maj Gen Garry  Dean. 
USAF Col Randy Spears, commander of the  601st Air and Space Ops Ctr, 
called the mission an extension of the eagle-eyes  his airmen provide every day. 
"The men and women of this AOC monitor the skies  24/7, 365 for the 
contiguous United States, and Sunday's special event is  another part of our mission 
set," he said.
    In addition, the FL-ANG's 44th Civil Support Team  will be on the 
ground, poised to support civil authorities, as required. The  40-member team, a 
mix of soldiers and airmen, is trained respond to any  emergency situation, 
including those dealing with weapons of mass destruction,  said USAF Lt Col 
Ron Tittle, a FL-ANG public affairs officer.
    As in recent years, about 40 wounded Marine Corps  warriors will be 
enjoying the game in person, courtesy of tickets donated by the  Cleveland 
Browns. Meanwhile, thousands of US service members will be watching,  too, 
either at home or overseas, via Armed Forces Network broadcasts.  

AL STERN  Satellite Beach  FL
AllanStern at aol.com
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