SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., - As the world anticipated the war in Iraq in early 2003, two navigation analysts at Schriever Air Force Base began to conjure up ways to improve Global Positioning System accuracy.

Captains Arnold Werschky and P.J. Mendicki, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, developed a more efficient way to update the timing signal on the Global Positioning System. Credit: SrA Mike Meares

Their 10-day brainstorm and countless hours of computer GPS simulations boosted the warfighter's potency by 30 percent when the storms of heavy-hitting bombs began pouring down on Baghdad, March 19, 2003.

Nearly one year later, Capt. Arnold Werschky, 2nd Space Operations Squadron and Capt. P.J. Mendicki, an Aerospace Corporation analyst counter-part and 19th SOPS Reservist, are getting the glory for their work on improvements made to GPS Enhanced Theater Support.

The two innovators, modified the original GETS tactic, first used during Operation Enduring Freedom, by building a virtual "fence" with the 27 GPS satellites allowing mission planners additional flexibility to launch air strikes with GPS-guided weapons any time.

"The thing that makes the accomplishments of Captains Werschky and Mendicki unique is the time critical nature of their work," said Lt. Col. Scott Henderson, 2nd SOPS commander. "Beginning only 10 days prior to the first bombs dropping on Baghdad, they developed, tested and implemented a tactic which enabled us to continuously provide max-GPS performance over the entire Iraqi theater 24 hours per day. As a result, coalition aircraft were able to deliver more than 7,000 precision munitions with a 95-percent kill rate."

Recently, the Air Force Association and the magazine, Aviation Week & Space Technology, recognized these two airmen for their outstanding contributions. They recently returned from a weeklong stay in Orlando, Fla. where they were both recognized with the General Bernard A. Schriever Fellowship award at the 18th annual Air Force Air Warfare Symposium. Gen. John Jumper, Air Force Chief of Staff, presented the awards. "(The awards) are a great honor," said Captain Werschky. "I couldn't feel more proud. It was quite an experience."

According to the AFA, the Fellowship award honors General Schriever and other leaders who, like General Schriever, have created an Air Force space program that is second to none in the world.

As a team, they were also honored in the 47th annual Aerospace Laurels 2003 in the space category of the Feb. 2 edition of Aviation Week & Space Technology. According to the magazine, the Laurel honors those individuals and teams who made significant contributions to the international field of aerospace. The editors in the magazine's space category nominated the honorees.

"As navigation analysts, we do a lot of thinking outside the box to refine GPS support to the warfighter while minimizing harm to global (civil) users," said Captain Mendicki. "We continually probe the edges of the envelope to find the next level of improvement. At the same time, we provide 24-7 support to the on-duty payload officer for any on-orbit or system level problems. The world relies on GPS. It's a highly complex system that takes time and dedication to understand. Working with such a highly dynamic system makes the job both challenging and rewarding."

GPS provides worldwide precision navigation service for U.S. and Allied military forces as well as a host of civilian users. Before the improved GETS, Dilution of Precision charts were used to determine when the service would be optimal, said Captain Werschky. GETS made the GPS service optimal anytime of day or night with 30 percent improved accuracy.

"We were floating a couple of ideas around and things just started clicking," said Captain Werschky. "It's hard to quantify the impact of this revolutionary tactic. We alleviated the accuracy concerns that the warfighter may have had, and now our warfighters can strike any time, any place."