Setting up complete operational communication support for 250 deployed Airmen in a foreign country doesn’t just happen overnight.

But the 35th Communications Squadron’s 10-person theater deployable communication package did that in 48 hours. The unit from Misawa Air Base, Japan, is here to support exercise Cope India ‘06 here.

Not knowing the level of communications capabilities to expect at this Indian Air Force base, the self-sustained team brought it all. They even brought their own wiring to establish a local network to the generators that power their systems.

“It is always challenging to set up our equipment in foreign and unfamiliar locations,” said team superintendent Master Sgt. Robert Tanner Jr. “However, we have established NIPR (non-secure internet protocol router) and SIPR (secure internet protocol router) networks, telephone, satellite and land mobile radio connectivity.

“In just two days we have established communications for basically a mini base,” Sergeant Tanner said.

Initially the team set up satellite connectivity, enabling telephone and internet capabilities. But that wasn’t without its problems. Typically, the nearly 700-pound satellite dish that transfers the signals is set up on the ground. But with numerous trees and buildings blocking the signal path to the satellite, the team had to improvise.

With ropes and teamwork they hoisted the dish, piece by piece, nearly 30 feet, setting it on top of a hangar.

“Typically we would have this set up in about two hours but with the location change and all the moving, we still got it up and running within six,” said Staff Sgt. Alan Pickford, a satellite communications technician.

The team has been going non-stop since arriving, and even though they have run more than 3,000 feet of cable, getting the Airmen connected does not mean they can relax, the sergeant said.

From information assurance and e-mail to internet and other services, the team’s interest is now in maintaining their connection and trouble shooting customers’ problems, he said.

“Getting our services up and running is just the first step,” said Senior Airman John Hamilton, a communications computer specialist. “Now our focus is providing the support to maintain connectivity to our customers.”

In all, the Misawa team has gone from having zero communications to having 40 connections each for internet, classified, radios and phones. In establishing these links they have kept the Airmen deployed for Cope India 06 connected.