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451st ECS keeps Kandahar Airmen wired to support mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa B. White
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Airmen at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, are wired and motivated to support the Operation Enduring Freedom missions - wired by the 451st Expeditionary Communications Squadron, that is.

"Comm touches all the missions here in the wing and many others across Kandahar Airfield," said Lt. Col. Glen Genove, 451st ECS commander. "From close air support to airlift to aeromedical evacuation, along with many other missions, we are privileged to provide the communications our warriors need to get the mission done."

More than 100 Airmen assigned to the wing here and at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, provide communications services to 2,000-3,000 customers on any given day. Reaching across eight different specialties, the Airmen can provide services for anything from computers, telephone, mail, up-to-date information via the Commander's Access Channel and the intranet, radios, infrastructure and satellites.

"We're at the heart of the war, so it's important for us to keep people informed and to make sure they are connected to stay in-tune with everything going on around us," said Senior Airman Mawali Roberts, 451st ECS knowledge operations manager. "Communications is pivotal to the war effort. Everywhere you look, technology is at the forefront of military operations in this decade compared to wars many years ago."

The members of the squadron are responsible for managing, maintaining and operating more than $30 million worth of equipment, and keeping their customers happy. With the harsh dust and high temperatures common in the region, the Airmen may find themselves fixing equipment more often.

"Dust is a big challenge ... computers definitely don't like dust," said Staff Sgt. Spencer Penton, 451st ECS NCO in charge of the client support team. "We're kind of similar to what a doctor would be to computers. A patient comes in with a list of symptoms and the doctor has to figure out what one thing of many that it could be - we do the same for computers. Our first 'prescription' is to restart the computer but, if that doesn't help, then we look a little further to find the underlying cause. The best thing we can do for our customers is to be confident that we'll apply the proper fix action."

From running cables to building radio towers and configuring users for access to the network, the 451st ECS has their work cut out for them by making sure each unit is connected and ready to go in order to support wing missions. Regardless of how busy they are keeping customers happy on a daily basis, their commander couldn't be more pleased by their teamwork.

"In my two and a half months here, I have seen a tremendous amount of teamwork and communication between everyone to get the mission done," said Colonel Genove. "They see a task that needs to be done, and they figure out how they can work together to get it accomplished. The total force within the squadron, Reservists, Guardsmen, active-duty, contractors and civilians, they all work so well together. I am proud to serve alongside these warriors as we get the job done. Comm - Wired Up, Fired Up!"