379th ECS “Magic makers” ensure servicemembers stay connected

Published March 12, 2015
By Senior Airman Kia Atkins
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Communication is vital for all units to ensure a mission is successful. Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadrons not only provide ways to keep units connected to keep their mission going, but also keep servicemembers connected to back home.

Being in a deployed environment can make it difficult to keep in contact with family and friends back home, but communications Airmen here have made it a part of their mission to ensure servicemembers stay connected with their loved ones.

“Morale makes a big impact on how efficiently someone gets their job done,” says Capt. Joseph Brock, 379th ECS deputy commander. “If they are missing someone from back home or if they are worried about taking care of issues back home, the added stress may affect them at work, which is why it is so important that we provide the services to give them that positive connection to back home. Whether it’s just giving them the opportunity to talk with their families or unwind from work with their favorite movie, morale really makes a difference.”

Some services the communication squadron provides deployed servicemembers include: internet, cable television and radio services; however, the most popular today and years past, are the letters and care packages from back home, delivered by postal Airmen here.

“We work seven days a week to process incoming and outgoing mail for over 8,000 base members,” said Master Sgt. Frederick Jackson, 379th ECS postmaster. “We do what we can to make sure that everyone gets their cards and their care packages from their loved ones back home as quickly as we can. It’s great to receive e-mails and everything, but it means so much more to get something tangible from back home.”

The post office here, which is the largest one in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, processes more than 500 packages and letters of incoming and outgoing mail each day. The mailroom works around the clock to ensure all packages and letters are processed orderly through the base and host nation customs.

“When I see how excited people are to receive their mail it makes me feel so good to know that I played a part in ensuring they got that package or that letter,” said Staff Sgt. Alicia Whitehead, 379th ECS official mail management NCO in charge. “I feel like the services we provide here really make a difference in the lives of the people who are deployed here. If they’re feeling down we give that little morale boost from back home.”

Another morale-based service communications Airmen provide –and the one they receive the most calls about when there is no connection—is Al Udeid’s MoraleNet.

“The MoraleNet here on base is probably one of the more popular services we offer,” laughed Master Sgt. Benjamin Gilbert, 379th ECS infrastructure and switching systems section chief. “It’s definitely the one that gets everyone’s attention. When MoraleNet goes down, we definitely get a lot of calls. It is very important for everyone to have Wi-Fi here. Whether they use it to video chat with family back home or watch funny videos, they really enjoy having it available.”

In an age where technology is the means of staying connected, servicemembers rely heavily on the wireless internet services provided by 379th ECS Airmen so they can have face-to-face interaction with their family and friends via online video-messaging services.

“Having Wi-Fi available for servicemembers to keep connected with their families is essential to morale,” Gilbert said. “When people are better connected, it helps their well-being.”

As if those services aren’t enough to boost your morale, the “magic makers” also provide 63 channels of cable television and American Forces Network radio services to help keep servicemembers entertained.

Movies, television shows and music are also available to Al Udeid servicemembers through the AUAB Mediaweb network. The entertainment provided on Mediaweb is also available for check-out at the base’s learning resource center.

“There are over 1,900 movies, 140 T.V. series and over 2,000 albums of music available for servicemembers to enjoy on Mediaweb from their network computers,” said Master Sgt. Dexter Huggins, 379th ECS network operations section chief. “I feel like the services we provide help break up some of the monotony of the day-to-day happenings out here and it also helps give everyone that sense of normalcy and a back-home kind of feel. I utilize these services as well and I know it definitely gives me a little normalcy in my life out here. It’s reassuring to know that the things I provide help everyone feel a little better about their day.”

Communication Airmen not only provide services to keep the mission going while servicemembers are working, but they also do their part to keep them entertained and boost their morale through various services they deliver on base when they’re back in their dormitories.

The 379th ECS is constantly updating the services they provide to help servicemembers make the best of their deployment.