Combat Comm enables Greek, US flight training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas Trower
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SOUDA AIR BAY, Greece --  The success of a flying training deployment involving U.S. and Hellenic Air Forces hinges on an array of variables, and one quick-response communications force is ensuring tactical messages are delivered at Souda Bay, Greece.  

 

The 1st Combat Communications Squadron's 11-personnel deployed team established connections between the ground, skies and cyber domain within a matter of days for the bed-down of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which is not only completing readiness requirements, but also providing an avenue to expand operational ties with the HAF.

 

"First in, Last out - that's our motto," said Master Sgt. Chad Peterson, 1st CBCS team lead. "We send an engineer to conduct a site survey in order to determine communications requiarements specified by the project officer during the initial planning phase of the mission."

 

The Airmen of the 1st CBCS are assigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, but rarely are they stationary as the unit provides bare-base, communications support throughout Europe and Africa. They're currently supporting about six operations throughout the region, including enduring locations that have been in place for more than two years, said Peterson.

 

"We're a self-sustaining force," said Senior Airman Tushawnie Jones, 1st CBCS tactical network data technician. "We've provided a small footprint of communications services within 72 hours."

 

These services include internet-based phone lines, access to classified and unclassified networks, land mobile radios, and ground-to-air radio communications, added the Melbourne, Fla., native.

 

This capability is enabling the 494th EFS to participate in the mission in Crete. Greece offers unrestricted, live ranges as well as access to many infrastructure and support facilities that can help prepare U.S. Air Forces in Europe personnel to respond anywhere, at any time.

 

The communications setup in use at Souda Bay arrived as seven pallets of cargo ranging from computers and cabling to tents and a satellite dish. Some deployment sites contain up to 13 pallets, which includes an all-terrain vehicle.

 

"Our goal is to provide basic core services within 48 hours," said Peterson, a native of DeForest, Wis. "After that, we have 24 hours for each additional expansion package."

 

"Once the infrastructure is in place, we still have to create user accounts, fix email issues, provide firewall security and man a 24-hour help desk," said Airman 1st Class Joseph Wrobel, 1st CBCS tactical network operations technician. "You have to be a well-rounded Airman to meet the demands."

 

"Flexibility is the key," said Peterson. "There's no time to be idle. When these Airmen leave combat [communications], they'll have been exposed to all types of jobs."

 

There are unique challenges compared to communications Airmen at a typical installation support unit.

 

"Many times, [standard technicians'] problems replicate," said Wrobel, an Orville, Texas, native. "Our missions change and each mission has a new basket of tricks. Where they can specialize, we end up being the jack of all trades."

 

"There's too much work to do in such a short amount of time, so you can't just focus on your own specialty," said Peterson. "We have [heating and ventilation] Airmen making network cable and [satellite communications] Airmen helping troubleshoot systems. These Airmen need to be technically proficient, possess initiative and demonstrate innovation."

USAFE is forward, ready, now, to provide capabilities and execute missions in support of combatant commands and national objectives. Through training and integration with allies and partners, these Airmen conduct missions from humanitarian relief to combat operations. This flying training deployment allows both USAFE and the Hellenic Air Force to extend joint war-fighting capability through operational training while strengthening the alliance and partnership between Greece and the U.S.