Airmen keep warfighters connected Published Oct. 14, 2003 By Staff Sgt. Russell Wicke 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- In a country that seems to be stuck in the first century, the world’s most powerful and advanced air force operates every day among the blowing dust and dried mud huts of Afghanistan. The average family here lacks a computer, phone, electricity and even running water. But inside the wire here, a complicated network of electrical lines, cables and fiber optics offers a stiff contrast to the rest of the country.Establishing phone lines, nonsecure and secure Internet lines and other communications have been quite a challenge for Air Force engineering and installation airmen, said Master Sgt. William Bevans, Combined Joint Task Force 180 EI team chief. The Air Force team is working with the Army to put up the communications around the base.“(The EI team) is important here because we are installing the communications infrastructure, which is crucial to win the war on terrorism,” said Capt. Andrew Kalie, CJTF 180 EI commander. Unfortunately, the team had to start from scratch here.“The biggest obstacle for us is having too many projects and not enough installers,” he said. “I have three projects right now that are all being called (the) No. 1 priority.” More goes into phone lines and e-mail than what most people think, according to Bevans. “Copper lines and fiber-optic cables must be routed underground,” said Staff Sgt. Bret Beninate, a cable and antenna systems specialist. He said that amounts to a lot of digging, especially when new buildings are constantly being built here. “Because of the base’s rapid expansion, we stay busy putting up (communications equipment) 12 hours a day, every day,” said Staff Sgt. Keith Heaverlo, also a cable and antenna systems specialist. However, the team’s work begins well before ground is broke and lines are spliced.“The (computer-aided drafting and design) team is responsible for drawing and documenting base blueprints associated with floor plans, telephone-distribution systems, fiber-optic cable layouts and other communication systems,” Kalie said. “They put it down on paper ...”“And we make it happen,” Beninate said.Despite the long hours and extreme demand for their service, the team’s airmen said they enjoy what they do.“The most rewarding thing about my job is getting to see my customers use the finished product,” Bevans said. “When a call is made or an e-mail is sent, they have used something my team and I worked hard to install. My troops have given their blood, sweat and tears to get these communication missions accomplished.” Bevans and his team are not reserved about what they do. They said they know it is important.“Reliable communications are critical to the warfighting effort,” Kalie said.“You can talk about us, but you won’t talk without us,” said Bevans.