KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year; a team of Airmen on Kirtland are tasked with watching and listening for potentially dangerous situations.
These Airmen belong to the 377th Air Base Wing’s Command Post who dedicate their lives to keeping Kirtland a safer place by reacting to extraordinary situations and following their prepared checklists to ensure that proper agencies are notified.
“We are the eyes and ears for the commander,” said Staff Sgt. Lehandre Staude, 377th ABW CP controller. “We keep the commander in the know on everything of importance that happens on base.”
The communication is key for the installation commander to make decisions, according to Master Sgt. Angeline Mahoney, 377th ABW CP superintendent.
“We contact him on a daily basis, to keep him informed of any base events, incidents or situations that occur,” added Mahoney. “Whether it’s during the duty day, holiday or in the middle of the night. He relies heavy on the CP to give him correct and updated information for him to make decisions.”
Along with keeping the commander informed, CP is also in charge of keeping the base population updated. Using the AtHoc emergency mass notification system and loudspeakers placed around the base, and sending alerts to base personnel about severe weather, base emergencies and other situations.
Thanks to the careful work of the Airmen of the CP, Kirtland remains safe, and is able to carry out the mission.