Communication overwatch
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Master Sgt. Keith Mason and Staff Sgt. James Furnish, 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron, oversee the maintenance of several different airfield systems and radars performed by civilian contractors that keep the aircraft in constant contact with air traffic controllers here July 15. By contracting the maintenance out to several agencies, the Air Force can lower the number of servicemembers required for the task. Sergeant Mason is deployed from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and Sergeant Furnish is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)