ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Thousands of visitors enjoyed this year's Joint Service Open House attractions, including over 150 aircraft on display, roughly 50 tanks and other military machinery and over 150 concession and vendor stands. What many folks may not take into consideration, however, were the months of precise planning and detail that went into determining what would go where and the reasons behind those decisions.
"I think many people outside in the general public -- and even some military members -- don't know what goes on behind the scenes to put one of these events on," said Tech. Sgt. Dan Claffey, 1st Helicopter Squadron JSOH ramp coordinator and resource advisor. "People don't realize it's not just a matter of, 'Yeah, I think this plane will go here and this tank will go there,' - it's much more than that." Sergeant Claffey is a JSOH veteran with this year marking his third year coordinating in the event.
Sergeant Claffey and the Ground Ops team have been hard at work for the past few months lining up who would be in the static displays for JSOH attendees to enjoy.
"Looking at the big picture," Sergeant Claffey explained, "we have Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Army - add to that the War Birds and other displays. On top of that we planned where the concession stands, the portable toilets, distinguished visitor tents and displays went. Plus, we worked out lodging, rentals and other arrangements for the air crews. There are a lot of things behind the scenes that are worked out to make this event a true Joint Service Open House."
"As static aircraft were confirmed, I worked with civil engineering to get them plotted onto the chart," said 1st Lieutenant Matt Finnegan, 1st Helicopter Squadron unit deployment manager. "I also worked closely with reps from each service and other agencies on base to ensure everything was where it needed to be."
Captain Kate DenDekker, 1st Helicopter Squadron pilot and 2008 JSOH Ground Ops coordinator, said the goal is for everything to look seamless to the general public.
"It's a great compliment and we're doing our job if folks come to the open house and think that it's normal to have 500-foot tents, chairs, and tables set up along the flight line - it's our job to make it seem like it just appears overnight," she said.
As quickly as everything goes up, everything comes down, with the Ground Ops team kicking it into high gear after the 316th Security Forces Squadron called the all clear Sunday afternoon after the show.
"We started cleaning up around 4:30 p.m., and we were out here until midnight after the JSOH ended," Sergeant Claffey said.
Sergeant Claffey began post-JSOH tasks Monday morning at 6 a.m., and quickly prepared for the day's events.
"We started breaking down everything immediately after the show - we broke down the fencing, the tents, took up the tables and chairs and made sure all the contractors collected their stuff on the flight line." Sergeant Claffey said the Ground Ops team worked to get everything prepared in time for the Foreign Objects and Debris walk Monday morning.
"Once we're done with the FOD walk, then it's our goal to get the planes that are on display up and out of the airfield," said Sergeant Claffey. "Our 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron and airfield management folks get the pilots of their information and flight plans and get them out to their aircraft. It's a process to get the planes off the flight line, since obviously you can't get everyone out at the same time, so there's coordination there too."
The Ground Ops team has a couple of days to rest before planning for next year's JSOH.
"We're already in the planning stages for next year," Lieutenant Finnegan explained. "We have a 'hot wash,' where we analyze what worked and what didn't."
As this year was Lieutenant Finnegan's first JSOH, he is most impressed with the synchronization of bringing everything together.
"I am most surprised at the months and months of planning it takes to put on a good show, and the different agencies involved," he said.
Sergeant Claffey said that the JSOH is more than an "air show."
"This weekend's event was really an open house - an occasion to showcase our military and base," Sergeant Claffey said.