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Staff Sgt. Andrew Post, right, helps Staff Sgt. David Reyes secure his safety belt into the communications tower here. 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cable and antenna communications system team members must have three secure points of contact before they can start their work. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

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Staff Sgt. David Reyes, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cable and antenna communications system specialist, puts a hot melt patch kit onto a single mode fiber to have communication connectivity between a switch and patch panel onto the user. A single strand of fiber can support up to 900 communication lines with the proper multiplexer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

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Staff Sgt. Simon Garcia, 379th ECS noncommissioned officer in charge of cable and antenna communications systems, does quality assurance tests on recently-installed 1800 pair copper wire. He is looking for discrepancies such as kinks in cable, which can cause problems in the longevity of the individual cables inside. The wire supports up to 1,800 phone and data lines in the Blatchford-Preston Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

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Staff Sgt. Andrew Post, 379th Expeditionary Communication Squadron Cable and Antenna team member from Kapaun Air Station, Germany, pulls up a length of repel rope to place into his rope bag. The rope must be replaced after each job to prevent excessive damage, as it is used by team members for training or tower rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

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Staff Sgt. David Reyes puts a hot melt patch kit onto a single mode fiber to have communication connectivity between a switch and patch panel onto the user. A single strand of fiber can support up to 900 communication lines with the proper multiplexer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

Layin’ down wire for enduring comm. capability

Published April 21, 2008
By Senior Airman Tong Duong
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The ability to relay messages around the world is a crucial element to any operation, and it's the 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron that holds responsibility for maintaining that capability.

"Our mission is to provide command and control, communications, and information services for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, tenant units, and coalition partners in support of [Air Forces Central and U.S. Central Command] operations," said Lt. Col. Mike Benson, 379th ECS commander.

The 379th ECS has approximately 140 military personnel and 94 contractors to perform this vital mission. They are from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Ramstein Air Base Germany, and several Air National Guard and Reserve bases throughout the states.

"Each Airman and contractor plays a critical part in accomplishing our mission. They are the ones who are in the trenches day-in and day-out building upon the foundation of communication capabilities within the base and around the CENTCOM area of responsibility," he said.

The squadron has undertaken many new projects to help propel the base form expeditionary to enduring.

A recently completed project is the stand-up of the new Munitions Storage area where 1st Lt. Nihar Shah was the communications project lead.

"We laid more than 4,000 feet of copper and fiber lines to set up 35 non-secure and three secure internet protocol router drops, 26 defense switch network lines, and more at the munitions storage area," Lieutenant Shah said. "We are securing communication to the 150 acre area by way of microwave signal and providing personnel access to make informed decisions of the $1.9 billion stockpile of ammo."

At the Blatchford-Preston Complex, the 379th ECS laid all the cable and installed more than 1,300 voice and data circuits along with the Cable TV to the dorms. They also installed communication capability in the community mall, the fitness center, dining facility, and the fire department.

Some of the challenges the expeditionary unit has encountered are equipment delivery delays, facility design limitations, and tight time lines. They have overcome all these challenges to meet the established completion dates.

"We had to think outside the box and have a bigger vision than just one particular project allows us to see. We are learning how each experience impacts our projects, the base, and populace here," Lieutenant Shah said.

On his fifth deployment and taking on the role of noncommissioned officer in charge, Staff Sgt. Simon Garcia, deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., said he has learned many things here.

"The best part of this deployment is the overall view, support and impact the communication squadron has on the mission downrange," the cable and antenna systems supervisor said. "The responsibility of managing others and understanding the position of an NCOIC in charge is a lot more demanding. I am not just representing myself but the entire work center."

By providing the base with reliable command and control, communications, and information, it helps improve connectivity for all flights, squadrons, and groups to accomplish their respective missions.

"Our squadron's goal is to provide a communications enterprise network with 100 percent availability and reliability," Colonel Benson said. "This is what is expected of us and that's what we strive to provide."