Deployed team helping Airmen communicate

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Andrew Gates
  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Deployed units rely on a steady flow of communication to accomplish the mission, so computers and phones provide a vital link between organizations around the Air Force.

Equally important is making sure that those computers and phones work well, especially in an environment that is not very conducive to electronics.

The task of keeping a vast communication network running for 600 Airmen deployed here falls to the communications flight team.

“We support the computer network, phones and lines,” said Master Sgt. Robert Dempsey, of the 455th Expeditionary Support Squadron. “Without some form of communication, people here couldn’t get the orders they need to complete their mission.”

After nearly three years of deployed operations, much of the equipment on base is the same as on a traditional base.

“For the most part, the entire infrastructure is fiber (optic cable) or Cat-5 (computer network cable),” Sergeant Dempsey said.

The job here is somewhat different from what the communications Airmen are used to, said Sergeant Dempsey, mostly because Soldiers here provide and maintain the infrastructure.

“Normally, we run everything on an installation,” he said. “We are the communications experts setting up and maintaining the network. Here, we are responsible for the computers on Camp Cunningham. If the server goes down at home, my team is responsible for fixing it. Here, the Army has that responsibility.”

Working at the user level instead of the network level helps communications experts better understand their customers.

“I usually work with people who have the same level of expertise that I do,” said Staff Sgt. John Baker, of the 455th ESPTS. “Here, I work with people with differing levels. Some know nothing, and others know just enough to be dangerous.”

He said working here gives him a lot of information on how to improve training, both for users and for those who provide customer service.

“Now I can train my work-group managers better on dealing with customers,” Sergeant Baker said. “I can provide them more specific knowledge.”

The Bagram communications Airmen spend most of their time repairing and maintaining the equipment here. For computers, that is a responsibility that normally falls to work-group managers, such as Airman 1st Class Demetrill Newman, an information manager.

“I mostly work on uncovering software issues and doing some repairs,” he said. “That’s something I don’t do at home.”

Another task Airman Newman does not have do at home is deal with classified systems.

Opportunities here have given Airman Newman some insight into how to do his job better at home. For instance, at home, he can handle problems over the phone, most of the time. Since the Army uses different programs, he finds that he often has to go over and visually see a problem before he is able to fix it.

Because the Army “owns” the network, the communications Airmen have to work closely with them to take care of Air Force communication needs.

“The Army has been absolutely fantastic,” Sergeant Dempsey said. “They have been very understanding and bent over backward to help. I can’t say enough good things about how they operate.”

Limited resources make the job interesting.

“We have limited telephone numbers and limited communication capability back to the states,” Sergeant Dempsey said.

The environment also makes the job interesting, he said.

“Most hardware in a computer can last up to five years -- the equipment is usually obsolete and replaced before we ever have to fix something,” said Sergeant Dempsey. “Here, the dust tears a lot of hardware up. The dust is so thick and so fine, it coats the machine’s insides.”

Because of the dust, the Airmen here find themselves often repairing equipment, Sergeant Baker said, something else they are not normally trained to do.

“I am using personal knowledge to repair computers,” he said. “I have seen floppy drives that are eaten through in a month, and hard drives that are broken within six months of installation.”

Airmen here are well aware of how important it is to repair equipment and keep people communicating, Airman Newman said.

“Communication is a big part of the mission,” he said. “People need to use computers a lot and stay in touch with other units and people.”

That mission is extremely important now in Afghanistan where coalition teams are ensuring citizens get a chance to register to vote.

“I think it’s really good that we are getting everyone the opportunity to vote,” Sergeant Baker said. “That’s really important. It’s the next step to moving on and making Afghanistan a secure nation. The country has been pretty beat up over the past 30 years. It’s about time someone helped out.”