Combat communicators provide more than ‘terabyte’ of support

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 416th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan (AFPN) --  If you ask Staff Sgt. Brandon Miranda what a “terabyte” is, the communications-computer systems operations journeyman with the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron communications flight here will tell you it is a computer server that can store more than 1,000 gigabytes.

For the nearly 1,000 personnel at this base, Sergeant Miranda, who is deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., and seven other combat communicators are responsible for providing a wide variety of wireless and ground-based communications support.

The Airmen, who work directly with Army and contracted civilian communications specialists, keep the combat communications for the base flowing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Our goal is to provide uninterrupted communications to (everyone) assigned to K-2,” said 1st Lt. Theresa Thomas, communications flight commander deployed from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. “We provide and maintain voice and data communications using tactical deployed equipment, resolve computer and network-related issues, and we account for and issue computer equipment to Air Force users. We also manage the only morale servers on base for more than 1,000 people, and, overall, we support the 416th Air Expeditionary Group's role in projecting combat air power in support of the global war on terrorism.”

Lieutenant Thomas said the flight’s motto is, “You can talk about us, but you can’t talk without us.”

“That statement sums up our importance,” Lieutenant Thomas said. “Just about every battle fought today relies on communications of some sort, and my team prides themselves on ensuring communications capabilities are readily available, reliable and secure, protecting the integrity of our military operations.”

She said the air traffic controllers specifically rely on the communicators to ensure they have voice and data communications to monitor and report air field operations, accidents or incidents.

“There are also the vehicle maintainers, fuels delivery, security forces and fire department personnel, to name a few, who rely on our wireless communications to manage and control their operations,” Lieutenant Thomas said. “I truly consider myself fortunate to have a team of professionals who want to make a difference in the fight against the war on terrorism. We may be a small unit, but our effect on the K-2 community is huge. Just ask any of our customers.”

Tech. Sgt. Kerry Westerfield, noncommissioned officer in charge of personal wireless communications and deployed from Travis AFB, Calif., said what he does for the mission affects everyone.

“In my job, I manage the land-mobile radio and satellite communications shop,” he said. “Managing the LMR assets for the base is a challenge all on its own when you have to ensure that we upgrade equipment as needed to meet current and future needs.

“People know we are here to support their communication needs and that we do our best to support them,” Sergeant Westerfield said. “In a deployed location, sometimes you don’t always get the required materials to support your needs, and sometimes our customers have to wait, but we never forget, and we do our best to get the job done right 100 percent of the time.”

Tech. Sgt. Lisa Ramos, NCO in charge of the flight, also deployed from Vandenberg, said one of the toughest challenges the flight has is the length of time it takes for them to obtain necessary equipment, but they work through it and meet the mission they came here to perform.

“We provide a lot of behind-the-scenes support that is transparent to our customers,” Sergeant Ramos said. “If you don’t have any problems or glitches with your information flow, thank the combat communicators. That means we’re doing our work and meeting any challenges that might come along.”

Senior Airman Rosie Alvarado, a communications-computer systems operations journeyman deployed from Vandenberg, said one of the most crucial aspects of communications for the combat environment is the computer systems used by everyone.

“I am out in many different areas of the base every day making sure computer systems are working the way they’re supposed to,” she said. “Computers are very critical to the war mission. With that said, whether it’s during war or not, everyone has to have communications.”

Staff Sgt. Frank Jackson, also a communications-computer systems operations craftsman deployed from Grand Forks AFB, said whether it means working to check an inventory or standing in the rain outside to make sure equipment is connected properly, the communications flight doesn't let anything keep them from carrying out their mission.

“How can you get anything done if your communications equipment doesn’t work?” Sergeant Jackson said. “When you look at the big picture, we have one of the most critical missions here. Without us, mission planning isn’t the same for the C-130 (Hercules) aircrews, and without us, databases and other things like the morale server wouldn’t be available to the Airmen deployed here. Communications makes the mission happen.”

Also in the communications flight are Staff Sgts. Nigel Steakley and Nicholas Villagomez, and Senior Airman Tent LaChance, all deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

“Our mix of people here from three different Air Force bases have melded into a great team,” Sergeant Steakley said. “We’ve done everything imaginable together, and every day brings different challenges. Each one of us brings our best to work with us each day, and that’s what has made our efforts successful. It’s been teamwork and toughness all rolled into one.”

Lieutenant Thomas said their toughness has had results, and improvements to the communications infrastructure have been some of the most notable.

"One of the toughest challenges we’ve faced is obtaining the necessary equipment required to keep aged systems operational,” Lieutenant Thomas said. “However, my crew does not take ‘no’ for an answer. Just in a few short months, my staff has configured, restored and operationalized four major communications systems, increasing flight safety and mission capability for flight operations.

“What impresses me most about this team of professionals is their resilience to see a task through to completion,” she said. “For example, if we don’t have the right cable on hand, they find a way to build one. If we don’t have the right equipment, they find a way to configure equipment to bring communications to the customer.”

Sergeant Miranda said there are more than 1,000 ways to explain the critical need for communications in a combat environment, but there is one bottom line.

“Communications to the warfighter is as critical as food and a place to sleep,” he said. “Without all those people we have providing communications equipment, expertise and support, the war effort wouldn’t be the same.”