Control squadron keeps Afghanistan airmen connected Published March 25, 2011 By Capt. Penny Carroll 451st AEW Public Affairs KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Around the clock, the men and women of the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron here provide a combat theater necessity combining the cliché's of "can you hear me now" with "keep your eyes on the ball." The responsibilities of communications connectivity for air battle management fall on the shoulders of these airmen of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, who enable theater command and control by providing radio, radar and datalink communications to Pyramid Control, the 71st EACS in southwest Asia. The missions of Airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines in Afghanistan are enhanced by this unique command and control architecture. It all starts with the radar picture. The radar gives all operators a common operating picture to work with. "Surveillance technicians, using the radar picture, attach symbology to the systems and then attach this information to the datalinks information," explained Captain Ethan Thompson, 73rd EACS director of operations and the Afghanistan regional interface control officer. "This way, higher headquarters and tactical commanders alike can see what we have out in the battlespace." Radio transmissions provide the traditional voice links to aircrew. The weapons crew at the 71st EACS uses the radar symbology and radios that are remoted in from the 73rd EACS to control and direct pilots to their designated locations. "Radio connectivity is important because it is still the best means of communication to the pilots. Having no voice on the other end can be an uneasy feeling," said Senior Airman Ryan Shea, radio frequency transmission systems technician with the deployed unit. Datalinks enable situational awareness for pilots about other aircraft flying their area - a necessary screen visual especially considering the number of aircraft flying at any one time. Through a data exchange network, military aircraft aligned with the capability can, in near real time, share imagery, data and test messages and use the additional information to save lives. Using radio, radar and datalink systems, the 73rd EACS ensures the signals are maintained continuously in order to deconflict airspace. "We're different from the air traffic controllers in the tower," said 1st Lt. Ted McDevitt, 73rd EACS deputy chief of maintenance. "Air traffic controllers put planes on identified routes. Military aircraft can't necessarily accomplish their mission by staying on these routes." A completely self-sufficient unit, the air control squadron provides the deployed radar function of a mobile control reporting center, complete with its own communications, security forces, vehicle maintenance, supply, HVAC, and other specialized Airmen. "We're able to pack up our operations and be dropped in the middle of nowhere and still perform our mission to connect communications for the aircraft and battlefield commanders," said Lt. McDevitt. Having the assortment of air force specialties within the squadron keeps the radio, radar and datalink systems properly maintained, and ensures the most minimum downtime on any given system should a problem arise. "This mission must be sustained. We can't afford to 'drop the call' because literally, it might mean that troops on the ground don't get what they need when they need it," iterated Capt. Thompson on the importance of the mission. Helping air assets keep their eyes on the ball without dropping a call, this unit is keeping airmen where they need to be in order to support commanders throughout Afghanistan. The 73rd EACS is ultimately assisting leaders in making critical command and control decisions at a moment's notice, prosecuting targets and enabling mission execution every day.