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Magic Makers: Making communications happen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amy M. Lovgren
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar – Approximately 225 U.S. Air Force Airmen from active-duty, guard and reserve, along with contractors, create the foundation for the 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron also known as the “Magic Makers.”

 

This well-earned name highlights the value and importance the squadron brings to the fight each day.  These men and women are dedicated to the around-the-clock responsibility of providing enduring and sustainable cyberspace and communications capabilities in direct support of delivering airpower, defending the region, and developing relationships throughout the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility.

 

Many of the Magic Makers have the opportunity to serve in roles not typically seen in a stateside base, and catch a rare glimpse of what it takes to serve in the Air Force’s largest expeditionary communications squadron.  The 379 ECS Tech Control Facility is responsible for 78 percent of all Air Forces Central Command communications circuits that pass through the AOR.  The Viper team provides tactical, airborne, command, control, and communications capabilities to senior leaders as they transit throughout the theater of operations, while the Post Office is accountable for processing, delivering, and shipping over 2.7 million pounds of mail annually.  At the heart of this operation rests the Network Management work center, whose duties include sustaining the base’s $275 million network infrastructure across six cyber domains.

 

The squadron patch symbolizes the rich history of the Magic Makers and the source of their powers.  The blue on their patch alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations.  The yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel who are spread across three flights within the squadron: Operations, Special Missions, and Plans & Resources.  

 

The magician’s top hat symbolizes the limitless possibilities of Air Force communications technology. This responsibility is levied on the Plans and Resources Flight, which conducts long-term communications planning for all construction projects, making sure the project meets or exceeds customer requirements.

 

“Whenever there is a new construction [project], I have to coordinate with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and their customers,” said U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Edward Salter, 379 ECS Project Manager. “Then, I communicate with other 379 ECS [back] shops to make sure communication systems are installed in a timely matter.”

 

The grouped stars and moon emerging from the hat on the patch represents the effectiveness of the systems and services the Magic Makers create and manage.  Focusing on the day-to-day network operations is the responsibility of the Operations Flight.

 

“In support of the mission, we provide secure and non-secure network, data, and voice capabilities,” said Airman First Class Andrew Glover, 379 ECS Network Management Technician.  “[We] would not be able to order aircraft parts or coordinate flight plans without network connectivity.”

 

The lightning bolt symbolizes the rapid power the squadron brings to expeditionary communications operations.  The Airmen in the Special Missions Flight bridge this gap with radio and satellite communications between the air, space, and cyberspace domains.  This is an extraordinary responsibility and a powerful task.

 

“We help to provide the long-haul communications throughout the [Air Forces Central Command] area of responsibility,” said Airman First Class Jose Morales, 379 ECS Tech Control Specialist.  “We provide the communications [systems] so someone can make that call and say you’re cleared hot!”

 

Al Udeid Air Base has transformed since 2003; and so too has the technology required to deliver airpower across the wing. However, the Airmen who continually deliver reliable and sustainable communications, so that every Airman, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Coalition Partner, can maximize mission effectiveness, excel today just as they did back in 2003. Their discrete feats and cyber force packaging is not an illusion to those who see the Magic Makers in action – as evident by the unit’s selection as the Best Large Communications Squadron in Air Combat Command for 2016.