Grand Forks communicators start 2 major base projects

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GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) --  The 130-person 319th Communications Squadron here is busy preparing Grand Forks Air Force Base for two critical information technology projects for the base and the entire Air Force.

One project is for the High Frequency Global Communications System is a highly-automated communications system that links Air Force command and control aircraft to other airborne and ground-based command nodes via high frequency communications around the globe.

Currently, HFGCS is operated by communications technicians at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C. Last year, Air Mobility Command officials selected Grand Forks AFB to take on responsibilities as the system's alternate control station.

The "new mission will task us with the responsibility of supporting the airborne communications system used by the White House, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other major commands around the globe," said Lt. Col. Sam Bass, the 319th Communication Squadron commander.

To prepare for this mission, base officials started a sizable facility renovation project to house the sophisticated support computers and will soon have dozens of high-speed communications circuits installed.

"The new circuits will ensure reliable connectivity to antenna locations around the world to provide secure data and voice connections to command and control aircraft." said Staff Sgt. Russell Mullens of the 319th CS Plans and Resources Flight.

When the alternate control station becomes operational in 2009, Grand Forks AFB communicators will ensure that national leadership flying around the world will be able to communicate securely.

As the unit prepares for this important mission, another Air Force program known as the Combat Information Transport System returns to install a significant upgrade to the base's existing communications lines and network equipment.

CITS ensures that every Air Force installation has the latest network equipment and infrastructure available to support the base's mission. AMC officials recently selected Grand Forks AFB as one of the first locations to receive the latest upgrade in 2009.

"This upgrade will add to the base's already sizeable network infrastructure by extending and upgrading our high-speed fiber optic network to provide reliable and redundant voice, data, and video links," said Tech. Sgt. Joe Nash of the 319th CS Plans and Resources Flight. "This will help to minimize outages and prepare us for any mission the Air Force might send our way."

The two-year upgrade project begins with a site survey in December. Air Force network engineers will visit Grand Forks AFB to review the base's current infrastructure, assess the supporting network equipment, and make arrangements for the installation of the new equipment.

"I measure the age of computers in dog years," Colonel Bass said. "It doesn't take long for the computer on your desk to become dated as new models become available. For the base network though, fiber optics provide the greatest capacity available and, once it is in place, few upgrades are needed. Until now, fiber optics has been reserved for core facilities on base."

By the time the project is completed, Grand Forks AFB will have a state-of-the-art network designed to provide increased capacity to more areas of the base, making it fully ready to support any future mission requirements.

"Grand Forks provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to our nation," said Col. John Michel, the 319th Air Refueling Wing commander. "The University of North Dakota is a proven leader in the unmanned aircraft system industry and we have the ideal geographical location for unmanned flight training and research. This network upgrade will provide the robust infrastructure required to handle the load of flight data and aircraft video feeds. The timing of this upgrade couldn't be better." 

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