SOUTHWEST, ASIA --
Walking through the halls of the living facilities at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, it would be hard pressed to not find someone using the DAWGNet.
Short for Deployed Airman Wireless G-band Network, the base’s free morale Internet service provides today’s service members with the means to connect to their loved ones in an environment where the Internet and social media platforms are the primary communication tool.
The casual observer can see easily see the days of calling cards, collect calls and morale phones have officially been placed in the history books, with rotary phones and phone booths.
“The second someone can’t do something online on their day off, morale stops,” Senior Airman James Coe, 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cyber transport technician said. “You’re having a bad day from that point on, so you’re upset. Your one day off from working so hard just got ruined because now you can’t call your family. You can’t relax and enjoy your time off.”
Coe said they are quicker to receive a call when the morale network is down than when the government email system is disrupted.
According to the Pew Research Center, 77 percent of Americans own a smartphone, making mobile devices not only a primary form of communication, but for many in the rising generation the only form of communication they have ever known.
“Being so young—I just graduated high school – and this being the first time I’ve been so far away from home, it’s just that connection back home,” said Airman 1st Class Chad Hutchins, 386 ECS cyber transport technician. “It makes the time here easier and it makes the transition back a little bit easier.”
Cyber Transport Technicians are trained to provide voice, data, and video services. They are responsible for testing and troubleshooting network systems equipment and circuits. Due to security concerns, wireless networks aren’t generally operated in traditional military work centers, creating a unique job specific to deployed environments.
Over the past few months, a DAWGNet upgrade occurred as part of Air Combat Command’s Comprehensive Airmen Fitness Network (CAFNET) initiative to improve wireless network access for all deployed member in the AFCENT area of responsibility.
For this reason, the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron pursued a base-wide infrastructure and bandwidth upgrade worth over $1 million. With the help of the 386th Contracting Squadron, they doubled the transmission capacity of the network through a renegotiation with the local internet provider. The communications squadron has also been able to replace more than 120 indoor access points and add more than 30 outdoor wireless access points to the installation, mostly in living and common areas, increasing the total wireless coverage to 70 percent – excluding all areas around the flight line.
This new service contract has also allowed for faster service on repairs requiring additional support.
“Where I was previously stationed they had a morale net but you had to be wired-in to be able to use it,” said Coe. “The only place you were able to use the wireless aspect of it was at the recreation centers or at the chapels.”
In order to ensure a continuous connection, the 386 ECS has to constantly monitor and update the systems as the installation grows. The 386 ECS estimates that it will be able to create a 99 percent coverage area in the near future.