Photo By Staff Sgt. Kasie Faddis | U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Charlie Saddler, Host Aviation Resource Management shop...... read more read more
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This month’s Unit Spotlight is the Host Aviation Resource Management (HARM) and Squadron Aviation Resource Management (SARM) shop within the 117th Operations Group!
The HARM/SARM shop is essential in keeping all aircrew current on all training, keeping up on crew mission readiness, deploying and even flying locally. Master Sgt. Charlie Saddler, an aviation resource manager, is about to move into the supervisory role for HARM and has been in the career field since he enlisted in 2000. Staff Sgt. Tamara Ballenot, with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, takes care of the SARM side of the house.
“The HARM shop takes care of all the aircrew members, whether they are doing any type of training and making sure they are good to go as soon as they step out the door to support the mission,” he said. “There are over 50 training requirements an aircrew member must accomplish, including
flying and ground training, and we have to track it all to make sure they are mission ready.”
Aviation resource managers maintain flight records while ensuring safety and training requirements are met prior to an aircrew member’s flight. They act similarly to unit training managers because they are responsible for keeping members current on training, but the training is specific to aircrew only.
“Currently I am by myself, so I have to monitor over 100 aircrew members including the ones down range,” he said. “Typically, it is me, Staff Sgt. Ballenot and our supervisor who recently retired, Senior Master Sgt. Michele Molstad.”
Aviation Resource Management is an initial career field you can enter as soon as you enlist with the U.S. Air Force and the technical training is around six weeks at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. There are three advanced levels to the career field to include HARM, SARM and Chief Aviation Resource Management, or CHARM.
“You learn the basics at Keesler, but when you come back to home station, it would be beneficial for you to enroll into SARM, HARM or CHARM school,” said Saddler. “At those three levels, they are going to teach you from novice
to advanced skill level training. In the CHARM position you have the knowledge of all levels, such as how to do flight pay for flyers who are in a certain status or publishing aeronautical orders for aircrew members.”
They also work with their unit deployment manager to ensure all pre-deployment requirements are met from medical to small arms training.
“I will say that it can be very laid back and it can also get very overwhelming, but when you get used to the job and acclimated with everything including your surroundings it is not bad at all. It’s like riding a bike for the first time. You’ll start off slow, but if you keep at it, you’ll
get better at it over time,” said Saddler. “You may have some good days and not so good days. That’s just a part of life, but you just have to go in with a smile, a positive attitude, a great work ethic and make the best of what you
do in support of our mission.”
| Date Taken: | 01.31.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2025 11:59 |
| Story ID: | 490758 |
| Location: | BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 128 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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