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Airmen help Soldiers communicate in a virtual 'SNAP'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. John Jung
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Senior Airman Randell Rountree feels surrounded.

And he is... surrounded by a sea of more than 50 Soldiers in Army Combat Uniforms as contrasted by his Airman Battle Uniform, but he's OK with his situation.

Airman Rountree, deployed from the 1st Communication Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va., is the one Airman that Soldiers depend upon for all of their internet and telephone communications from their remote outpost in Afghanistan.

Airman Roundtree and several dozen communications Airmen from around the world are deployed in "one-deep" positions to various locations in Afghanistan to operate the Virtual Secret Internet Protocol Router, Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router, Access Point, which provides vital communication access for Soldiers in austere combat outposts and forward operating bases.

"VSNAP is a communication system developed recently to provide Soldiers in far-flung locations with internet and telephone connectivity," said Master Sgt. Todd Triplett, NCOIC of the Air Force VSNAP teams and 15-year Air Force veteran deployed from Hill AFB, Utah.

"It's a great system because the dish can be set up in minutes and you can be passing internet and phone traffic within about two hours," said the Granite Falls, N.C. native. "It's rugged, portable and can run off of a small generator or even a vehicle like a MRAP or Humvee."

"The VSNAP system is not an Air Force-specific system, but the communications Airmen I oversee are smart and versatile and learned to operate, troubleshoot and maintain the system in a short period of time."

After a week of intensive, hands-on training, the Airmen are capable of setting up, tearing down and relocating the system at will, or as operations demand.

Although having internet access may seem to be only a morale issue, it is not. Having internet access is critical; nearly everything from tracking intelligence reports, planning operations and tracking troops outside-the-wire depend on internet connectivity.

"I have a definite sense of accomplishment and feel that my time is being well spent out here," said Airman Rountree, "The Army has utilized my technical skill sets fully," said the three-year Air Force veteran and Wheatland, Calif., native.

Staff Sgt. Shaun DeCroo, deployed from the 50th Communications Squadron, Scheiver AFB, Colo., echos the sentiments of his fellow communications Airman.

The leadership and Soldiers enjoy having me around and they treat me well because they know I am their link to the Web," said the nine-year Air Force veteran and native of New Kensington, Pa. "They'd really, really like me if I'd go out on all the outside-the-wire missions with them," he said with a smile.

And smiles are all Sergeant Triplett sees from the Soldiers when he goes out on battlefield circulation to visit with his Airmen. Considering the harsh field conditions that some of the Airmen deal with - even in comparison to some Army units - the Airmen are getting nothing but praise from Army officials.

"The only thing that the Army requests of me is more of my Airmen," said Sergeant Triplett, "because they are such a huge asset to them."