Cutting-edge communications essential in emergency response

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CLEVELAND, Texas (AFPN) --  Communication is like water, heat or air conditioning -- it is virtually invisible when the system is operating smoothly. No one notices it unless it stops. While most military communications technicians understand that attitude and generally stay out of the spotlight, the Incident Commanders, Command, Control and Communications Unit may change that.

IC4U is a mobile communications terminal that looks like a small camper pickup truck. Although it looks unassuming, its mission is anything but mundane. It was developed as a solution to the communication problems encountered during Sept. 11, 2001.

“The IC4U was developed specifically as a homeland security asset to enable interagency cross talk (among) local civic entities after a disaster,” said Master Sgt. Tony May of the Georgia Air National Guard’s 283rd Combat Communications Squadron.

The state sent its IC4U package to support the Texas National Guard after Hurricane Rita devastated the area.

“These can be set up and running in about 15 minutes,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy McGinnis of the 283rd CCS. “That’s the beauty of it.”

The five-person team of Army and Air National Guardsmen flew with the IC4U to Austin, Texas, deplaned and convoyed to the Westheimer Armory in Houston on Sept. 23 to wait out the storm. They spent two nights in Beaumont, Texas, before receiving orders to provide communications support to 250 guardsmen at a local high school. Texas guardsmen have been helping local agencies distribute food and water until electricity is restored.

The IC4U had its first operational test in New Orleans and at the Houston Astrodome in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“We’re the first ones in Georgia to come out and use it, so I guess that makes us the subject-matter experts,” said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Smiley, also of the 283rd CCS.

Currently there are a handful of IC4Us operating in various states, Sergeant Smiley said. The equipment is so new, most commanders and civilian emergency responders do not understand its full capabilities, he said.

“Civilians don’t know what assets the military brings to the show and vice versa,” Sergeant McGinnis said. “It’s hard to ask for something when you don’t know what’s there or you don’t know what you need.”

Besides telephone and Internet service, the unit is also capable of relaying video and radio traffic from forward-deployed locations and sending the broadcasts to a Web page in a local command center.