COMM plays role in every aspect of mission

Published Dec. 3, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Just about everyone needs a phone and a computer to conduct their day-to-day jobs in the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing.

Whether it's for planning the next sortie for the day or for sending an e-mail home for morale purposes, the members of the wing rely heavily on the team of experts within the 451st Expeditionary Communications Squadron.

These Airmen play an important role in every unit by providing the capabilities necessary to keep operations running smoothly in order to accomplish the mission.

The 451st ECS not only supports Kandahar Airfield, but other forward operating bases of the 451st AEW, as well.

Last month, the communications focal point, which acts as a maintenance operations center, help desk and unit control center, received approximately 3,320 customer phone calls and e-mails. Approximately 1,360 customer calls were issues that were fixed quickly and required no further action. Eighty-five repair tickets were written, and 908 e-mails received fix action from the expert technicians.

Each month, the Plans and Programs Flight receives approximately 40 new communications requirements. These range from a customer requesting a new computer or phone to the bedding down of an entirely new unit.

The 451st ECS is also currently overseeing approximately 30 projects.

They include establishing the Camp Lasano communications infrastructure and installing emergency phones for the 451st AEW South Park living area bunkers.

"We have a couple different roles," said Maj. Thorsten Curcio, 451st ECS commander.
"One is the planning and building up of infrastructure. "Another is integrating with our coalition partners and other services."

As Kandahar Airfield continues to expand, the 451st ECS works on bedding down new units and working together with local coalition and service partners.

This squadron not only supports the 451st AEW on Kandahar Airfield, but other forward operating bases, as well.

Within the unit are Guard, Reserve and active duty personnel, along with International Telegraph Telephone contractors.

"We have a total force," Major Curcio said. "They're all doing their part and they all come from different parts of the world. They work really well together and I'm very impressed with the way they do their work day-to-day."

The major said the unit also works very well with Command Kandahar Airfield, works closely with the Canadians, as well as, other sister services.

Although the 451st ECS may face several challenges in this austere and tactical environment, it does not stop them from getting the job done.

"We try to provide a certain level of service commensurate with what you would get in the states, but with power outages and some of the infrastructure that we've inherited, that can be a challenge to keep up and running," Major Curcio said. "Whereas in the states you have reliable power 24/7, we don't have that guarantee here. It's not just power, it's everything we do; including jamming the electric countermeasures that we use to stop improvised explosive devices. ECMs are not something you have to worry about in the states, but you have to worry about them here."

Another challenge includes the thinly stretched resources and personnel as the Kandahar Airfield continues to grow.

Yet still, the technicians continue to remain positive with a can-do attitude while doing the best they can to remain very customer- and mission-focused.

"It's been very great to work with them and they have really been the driving force behind what has made this a great unit," said Major Curcio. "We're all happy to be here to provide those essential services to the warfighter to take care of the mission. We're here to do our part; and we're proud to be here to do that."