Radio telephone operators: Answering the Soldiers' call

  • Published
  • By Capt. J. Elaine Hunnicutt
  • Nangarhar PRT Public Affairs, 3rd BCT, 1st ID
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  As the four-vehicle convoy returns to base after a long mission, the gunner in the first humvee spots a suspected vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The word is passed over the radio and the convoy halts. 

This is a tense moment; the convoy members know their lives and the lives of civilians around them are at risk as they take the steps necessary to inspect the vehicle and set up a perimeter. 

During this critical time, the most important call the team makes is to the base for support. Answering the call is the base's radio telephone operator -- the lifeline for reinforcements, air support and medical evacuations. 

In this case, it is Senior Airmen Blake Manuel and Antuoine Clowers, the RTOs for the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. 

The Airmen are responsible for monitoring communications with all convoys in their battle space, for calling in air support and medical evacuations and for dispatching Quick Reactionary Forces and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams. 

"I monitor and track coalition forces' movement within Nangarhar Province," Airman Manuel said. "I answer the radios and relay all information about convoys in the province to the battle noncommissioned officer and captain." 

The pair, who are part of a multi-service team that trained at Fort Bragg, N.C., works opposite shifts in the Tactical Operations Center to operate the radios and a computer system called Blue Force Tracker, which monitors the movement of friendly forces within the 7,700 square-kilometer province.

"The training that we received at Bragg was good and did teach us a little about the equipment, but mainly it taught us about the Army culture and mentally prepared us," Airman Clowers said. 

The training also makes communication more coherent, because it introduced the Airmen to Army jargon and procedures.

For the personnel they support, RTOs such as Airmen Manuel and Clowers serve a vital mission.

"They ensure we are accounted for and are in constant contact with the [Provincial Reconstruction Team]," said Lt. Col. Paul Donovan, Nangarhar PRT commander. "They are our lifeline to the assets and resources that rain down fire or bring us life support -- without them we can't function. They are our sentinels and ensure that we come home alive at the end of the day." 

"The RTOs are the critical link between the operations cell and our elements operating in the battle space; they have direct knowledge and up to date information on what is going on," said Army 1st Sgt. John Okerson, Nangarhar PRT.

The PRT-owned RTOs train with just their team, but are responsible for many lives. 

"I work both sides of it; I drive when I can to help out the PRT, but I am part of all of it, because I track all of the convoys within our battlespace," Airman Clowers said. 

A typical day for an RTO can mean sitting in a windowless vault monitoring routine movement, but it can also mean calling in "med evacs" for wounded troops on the battlefield. 

Both RTOs agree that the greatest benefit of the job is having a comprehensive look at the mission within the area of operation. 

"I like the job because I get to know everything that is going on in the province. I am the battle NCO's eyes and ears" Airman Manuel said. 

"It seems like we are fighting two different wars, when I compare my last deployment in Manas with the Air Force to this," Airman Clowers said. "Here I feel like I am on the frontlines; I get to see it up close - I know what is going on." 

Both understand the importance of their role in the mission. 

"I provide support when bad things happen. I coordinate indirect fire and "med evacs." If I screw up, the aircraft could go to the wrong location," Airman Manuel said. 

Manuel and Clowers aren't out  marching through villages in the Afghan countryside or fighting insurgents in the mountains, but their job is just as important.

"While they are almost hermits in the TOC, we have to pull them out occasionally for a breather and check on them daily; their maturity and professionalism has them operating on auto pilot," Sergeant Okerson said. "We definitely have the right individuals filling these positions."

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080925-F-7011H-001:
Senior Airmen Blake Manuel from Louisiana is stationed at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, and is currently deployed as an RTO for the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He is part of a multi-service team that trained at Fort Bragg, N.C., and works in the Tactical Operations Center to operate the radios and a computer system called Blue Force Tracker, which monitors the movement of friendly forces within the 7,700 square-kilometer province.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Elaine Hunnicutt)

080925-F-7011H-002:
Senior Airmen Antuoine Clowers from Charlotte, N.C. is stationed at Holloman AFB, N.M., and is currently deployed as an RTO for the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He is part of a multi-service team that trained at Fort Bragg, N.C., and works in the Tactical Operations Center to operate the radios and a computer system called Blue Force Tracker, which monitors the movement of friendly forces within the 7,700 square-kilometer province.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Elaine Hunnicutt)