Largest flight records office in Air Force at Tinker: Main mission is to support war effort Published April 18, 2008 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Tinker has what could be the largest flight records office in the Air Force. The 72nd Operations Support Squadron is home to Tinker's Host Flight Records Office, which handles flying records for Tinker's aviators who include the Air Force Reserves and those assigned to Will Rogers Airport who are flying with the Air Force Inspection and Air Force Flight Standards Agency. The office manages information pertinent to keeping aviators' current and ensuring his career gates are on track and progressing. Record data may include flight pay and hours, training and medical information. The office manages more than 2,100 records and works directly with 10 flying units and four different commands. Yet, despite the size of their storage cabinets, officials said supporting the warfighter is their first priority. "The folks in flight records are absolutely true professionals," said Lt. Col. David Parr, 72nd OSS commander. "They support a myriad of units and wings on Tinker from several commands and they try and treat each customer like they are the most important. I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments and great work ethic." On a daily basis, Senior Master Sgt. Brian Lewallen, flight records superintendent, and his staff of 11 military and civilian personnel sort through aeronautical orders to determine flight pay, awards or anything that might impact an aviator's career. "The (Air Force Instructions) are specific and tell us what flyers have to do, but it's our job to determine who gets it," the sergeant said. "It's cut and dry, black and white. We have a number of AFIs that are very specific on what we can and can't do." On average, the flight records office manages between 2,600 and 3,000 orders a year. Sgt. Lewallen, who arrived at Tinker from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in October, said there, he only did about 72 orders a year. Unlike Eielson AFB, Tinker is responsible for AWACS, which has a larger crew than a fighter jet. In fact, Tech. Sgt. Rodney Washington, assistant noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the flight records office, said an average AWACS crew has more than 25 personnel, much larger than the one or two who may ride in a jet. In addition to the orders, every flight records client at Tinker must meet with the office staff once a year to review their records and ensure they have up-to-date information. "It's important so they know where they're at in their career and they know of the changes that are coming down that will affect their pay," Sergeant Lewallen said. There are many other flight records offices in the Air Force, but officials said no other has as many active records as Tinker. Sergeant Lewallen said the flight records office at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is responsible for most of the flyers in Europe but not all of their flyers are active. The same is true for Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C. Most of their records sit on a shelf until a member on a staff tour is transferred to another station. Overall, officials said it's not the number of records they're responsible for, but the job they perform. They're number one mission is supporting the warfighter. "We're here to support the war effort," said Sergeant Lewallen. "We're sending guys over and it's our responsibility not only to them but to our country to do the best job we can to help them to get over there to do their job."