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Unit provides tactical control of skies over Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • AFCENT Combat Camera Team
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan --  Coalition aircraft fly over Afghanistan around-the-clock, ensuring coalition airpower through such critical capabilities such as close-air support, air refueling and air mobility.

Operators based out of the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at an air base in Southwest Asia communicate with and control the aircraft performing these missions. For these aircrews to receive mission critical information, a significant amount of ground support is necessary from specialists trained to set up communications capabilities under bare-base conditions.

"We provide tactical control for the air war in a theater," said Lt. Col. Gary Dawson, the 72nd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron commander. "This includes air-to-air combat, air-to-ground, tanker air refueling, and close-air support" to assist troops in contact with the enemy.

"Using our radars, we provide an air picture of Afghanistan for the people in the CAOC," said Tech. Sgt. Ken Bosshard, who deployed in advance of the squadron in March to prepare the site for the arrival of the rest of the team. "We also coordinate radio traffic from here so when an air battle manager at the CAOC talks to an aircraft, it comes through here."

The 72nd EACS, made up of members deployed from the 606th Air Control Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, is a collection of Airmen representing a diverse grouping of career fields who come together to synergize the unit's critical mission.

"Our squadron back home has 22 different Air Force Specialty Codes and we have 13 of them deployed here," Colonel Dawson said. "We're like a little (Wing-level organization) - we're all inclusive."

This is not the first time the squadron has set-up an operation like this in Afghanistan. In 2006, they set up a camp on the other side of the flightline but ceded control to Australian partners when the mission responsibility changed hands. However, with the Australians scheduled to leave in the future, the camp will be relocated with additional construction and the mission will once again revert to the Air Force.

"Doing this again is a little like Groundhog Day," Colonel Dawson said.

Though the majority of the squadron arrived several weeks ago and began setting up operations, an advance team who planned logistics and operations for the site for more than a year deployed ahead of the main group to ensure basic amenities like tents, field showers and equipment would be available.

"We came out in September for a site survey and then arrived full-time in March," said Captain Brian Hidy, who lead the advance team. "When the unit arrived, we had enough cargo for several C-17s."

Once the new site becomes fully operational in the coming months, the Airmen of the 72nd EACS expect it to be around a little longer than its predecessors.

"This new site was intended to be 'enduring'," Sergeant Bosshard said, noting that with the shifting and dynamic requirements for real-estate at Kandahar led to the decision to close the current camp. "Some of the improvements from the old site we've made include positioning our new radar on a taller tower as opposed to the current one at that sits on a smaller dirt berm. This will greatly increase our range and capabilities."

Sergeant Bosshard also said the new site features newer equipment that is more reliable and will make a smaller footprint on the base, which will be easier for the Airmen to work there.

Another of the unique additions to the site will be the implementation of the new BC-3 system, or battle command and control center, which will take inputs from the radar and data links on the centralized new site and provide the information to air battle managers controlling the Afghanistan air missions.

"It's like giving us an (Airborne Warning and Control System) on the ground," said Captain Hidy, referencing the E-3 Hawkeye AWACS aircraft with its familiar radome on the top of the fuselage. "Without us, planes don't get to the kill-boxes."

Colonel Dawson added that the system will take all the information and data collected and pipe it to the CAOC and "is the future of how we will deploy."

According to Sergeant Bosshard, the BC-3 system is being used in the theater for the first time - "It's a milestone," he said.

The addition of the new system will enhance the site's capabilities but as it is the first time the system will be implemented in the theater, the Airmen of the 72nd EACS are required to live on-site in tents to meet the need of being immediately available to respond to any issues that come up with integrating the BC-3 with their older existing equipment.

Pointing to the wide assortment of duties being performed throughout the squadron, Colonel Dawson noted that while the technological capability they provide to the theater is important, the reality is that nothing can be accomplished without the hard work of the people on the ground.

"It's not all about the 'beeps' and 'squeaks,'" he said. "This is all about the people. This is the finest group I've ever worked with."