Air Force stands up command post at Kandahar Air Field

Published Nov. 3, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Air Force command and control elements in Afghanistan increased in capability recently with the stand-up of a new command post at Kandahar Air Field.

Kandahar Air Field is a NATO-led base, but with a growing Air Force mission, the need arose for a separate Air Force command post. The new facility is staffed by Airmen from the 451st Air Expeditionary Group.

"Two years ago there was a command post at Kandahar," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Pearce, previous 455th Air Expeditionary Wing command post superintendent. "We were able to communicate critical information to Kandahar in a timely manner. But as rotations went, the command post was done away with and given away to NATO."

Several incidents in the last year have highlighted the need for an Air Force command and control element at Kandahar. In the spring of 2008 the decision was made to re-establish the command post.

Using the Bagram shop as a template and his 20 years of experience, Sergeant Pearce ordered the more than $200,000 worth of equipment necessary to get a command post running. The first four command post controllers arrived at Kandahar in September, and with this equipment were able to begin operating in a limited capacity.

"Even with limited operations it provides us with a lot more continuity and communication," said Sergeant Pearce. "We really didn't think we would have it up and running in the time we had. It's been a huge success. If you give (the new command post crew) a moment, we're more than certain it will pay big dividends."

For the controllers at Kandahar, standing up a facility from scratch was a new experience. The location and equipment was chosen for them, but they were responsible for setting it up and establishing procedures.

"Bagram gave us a lot of information and all their quick reaction checklists," said Tech. Sgt. Kristy Konicki, 451st AEG command post NCO in charge. "We just had to go in and tailor them for our need."

The biggest challenge for the Kandahar crew has been trying to establish their role in the group.

"Without a command post being here, other people were doing what the command post should be doing," explained Sergeant Konicki, who is deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. "We've had to hunt down what we are supposed to be doing and take the job back. We also brief at right start every week so personnel know we are here, what kind of things we need to be notified about and what to do."

"From the very first 107mm rocket attack after officially standing up, the four 1C3's (command post controllers) in the 451st Command Post quickly established themselves as a vital communications hub between all the Airmen of the 451st, the NATO led Joint Defense Operations Center, the 455th Wing Commander and the Combined Forces Air Component Commander," said Col. Trey Turner, 451st AEG commander. "Their significance will only continue to cement itself and grow in direct proportion to the 451st throughout 2009 and into 2010."

Despite waiting on a few final pieces of equipment to be delivered, the Kandahar command post has been able to operate successfully.

"I think we found our niche, but as the Air Force mission builds up we are going to be adding more jobs," said Sergeant Konicki.

"Right now we are just laying the foundation for the next rotation," added Senior Airman Christopher Washington, a command post controller deployed from the 727th Air Mobility Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.

Bagram's command post is the largest in Southwest Asia; however the command post at Kandahar is just as important, according to Sergeant Pearce.

"We do volumes at Bagram, and Kandahar won't have that volume," he said. "But they are important in terms of the war effort because what we do out of Kandahar as far as the (unmanned aerial system) is critical."