Ground crew career takes off

It’s a busy time to be in Army aviation for ground crew mission support (GCMS), with the introduction of UH-60M Black Hawks and AH-64E Apaches, but many are unaware of what the role entails.

CAPTION: Warrant Officer Class One Benjamin Spain is a ground crew mission support standards officer within Army Aviation Command. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power.

Ground crew mission support, within Aviation Command, are information technology and tactical communications specialists, providing primary command, control, communications, computers; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.

The team administers the mission planning systems aircrew use to plan and execute missions, load helicopters with mission and communications data, and battle track aircraft during live mission phases.

GCMS standards officer Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Benjamin Spain said GCMS acted as a hub for the capability.

“We engage with every stakeholder within our organisation to ensure mission success,” WO1 Spain said.

“This includes directly supporting our crews from the planning phases right through to mission execution and debrief.

“You won’t find a trade with a broader scope of support to its capability than ground crew mission support.”

WO1 Spain said he had enjoyed varied and diverse experiences on the job.

“I have been on numerous humanitarian and peacekeeping operations over my career, and I have also provided direct support to our domestic counter terrorism capability within Defence,” WO1 Spain said.

“Army aviation tends to make everything you do feel both rewarding and meaningful.

“What impresses me the most about Army aviation is the scope in which we can be employed. We are a critical enabler in any theatre regardless of whether it’s humanitarian or warlike in nature.”

As a third-generation soldier, WO1 Spain said he always knew he would join Defence.

“I enlisted back in 2001 into Royal Australian Corps of Signals initially as an opportunity to travel and learn new things,” WO1 Spain said.

“I’ve always been a bit of a nerd at heart and I liked the aspects of IT and tactical communications, but eventually found the idea more appealing in an aviation setting, transferring in 2003.”

WO1 Spain said he first became aware of the aviation trade through the Army website when he was considering transferring.

“I was looking for something different but wanted to continue with IT communications,” WO1 Spain said.

“I chose well; this job is extremely interesting and very dynamic – I have been in aviation for over 21 years and have no interest in moving on.

“We get to work with some of the most advanced equipment in the world, within a capability that is in high demand and well postured to support a broad number of battlefield applications.”

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