Comm Airmen support detainee task force

Published April 3, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- It has been said that communication is a key element to a successful mission and a few comm Airmen here are using their expertise to support Task Force 134.

As members of a task force charged with Iraqi detainee operations, Staff Sgt. Michael Wiley, Task Force 134 system administrator, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Reyes, NCOIC of J6 Task Force 134, and Capt. Andrew Miller, deputy J6 Task Force 134, ensure the lines of communications stay open between all members of the task force.

"Basically we maintain the systems and make sure all the networks are up," said Sergeant Wiley, who is deployed form Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and is a native of San Antonio. "We support the whole task force and their comm systems and make sure they can access detainee records and any other information they might need."

"That includes repairing computers, troubleshooting issues, infrastructure problems and investigating new projects," added Sergeant Reyes, who is deployed from Edwards AFB, Calif., and is a native of Sacramento, Calif.

Not only do these Airmen provide day-to-day communication support for Task Force 134 members at detainee facilities all across Iraq, but they are also teaching their Iraqi counterparts the ins and outs of detainee operations.

"What we are doing to support the transition to the Iraqis is building systems for them that they can use to take over the mission themselves in tracking detainees from initial capture and release to long term management," said Captain Miller, who is deployed from RAF Lakenheath, England, and is a native of Gettysburg, Pa.

Task Force 134 mission is a joint effort between the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and civilian contractors and would be dramatically impacted without the Air Force communication personnel, according to Army Lt. Col. John Johnson, J6 commander Task Force 134.

"The Air Force communications personnel definitely bring unique and technical expertise. Their knowledge management and share point knowledge is very beneficial," he said. "The detention ops mission itself influences missions all across the Iraqi battle space and the mission is very important and the communication functions we provide are also very important all the way up to the MNC-I level."

The communication personnel here are also teaching future Iraqi correctional officers state-of-the-art software applications to help them be more successful when they eventually take over the mission.

"Some of the unique projects we are working on now is the development of correctional information systems that have never been seen before," said Colonel Johnson, who is deployed from Fort Monroe, Va., and is a native of Yorktown, Va. "One of which is the Iraqi Corrections Information System, which is a brand new piece of software. This system is going to allow us to teach the Iraqis to use biometric detainee management systems. We have already fielded this system at three sites and we have begun teaching Iraqi correctional officers how to use the system."