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455th Expeditionary Communications Squadron

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kayla Newman
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Construction on the new 455th Expeditionary Operations Group and 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron building is reaching completion at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Communications Squadron are working together to ensure the requirements of the building are met. The 455th ECS Airmen are responsible for getting all of the network connectivity in the new building operational.

"We had to wait until the construction of the building was complete before we could begin working," said Tech. Sgt. Kathy Ackley, 455th ECS project manager. "The actual building construction took approximately a month and a half and then it will take another two weeks to actually move the customers into the building."

Airmen assigned to the 455th ECS ensure that all requirements for NIPR, SIPR and Centrix are met in the building, as well as making sure that all radio antennas are functioning properly.

Different shops within the 455th ECS play pivotal roles once it is time to get the building active.

"The operations maintenance shop is responsible for making sure all of the equipment is up to standards," explained Ackley, deployed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. "Our client systems team actually moves the equipment in and gets it set up for the customer. Our Netman shop handles turning on the switches and making sure the network is active, while our radio shop ensures that the antennas are installed outside of the building."

According to Staff Sgt. Ray Hernandez, 455th ECS client systems technician, without each shop, the mission can't be completed.

"Each shop plays a vital role," said Hernandez, deployed from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "If one shop is missing, nothing can carry on until that shop completes their task."

To make sure each shop has the correct materials to complete their job, a survey team will go to a site and see what materials will be needed for the project three months before construction begins.

"The size of a project can be challenging, because we need to get all the materials in on time before we can actually begin," said Staff Sgt. Nolan Futrell, 455th ECS cable and antenna maintenance. "Getting the materials from stateside to here can be about a three month process, and we have to have all the material in Afghanistan before we can start."

The Airmen of the 455th ECS work around the clock to make sure their customers' needs are always met.

"The work tempo here is a lot higher than back at home station," said Futrell, deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. "The work load is also a lot more stressful than many other bases; there is always work to be done."

With a higher workload and a busier tempo, Airmen of the 455th ECS make sure they come together to meet the mission requirements of Bagram.