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One mile of cable, $5,000. One deployable integrated communications element, $3.1 million. Protecting the commander in chief as he visits Albania, the first time by any sitting U.S President, priceless.
***image1***A handpicked 14-member team from the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, headquartered at Ramstein, recently established critical connectivity in Tirana, Albania, in support of Operation Sky Marshall, enabling air superiority over the Albanian air space.
1st CBCS was responsible for providing long-haul communications and services while simultaneously delivering a common tactical picture used by U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, Gen. Tom Hobbins, and his operational staff to make time-sensitive decisions regarding potential air threats.
In addition, line-of-sight and tactical satellite radios enabled General Hobbins to maintain communications with the pilots over Albania from the 603rd Air Operations Center on Ramstein. In the event of an attack this capability offered him ability to streamline information to the fighter pilot in the air without relaying the information through the Airborne Warning and Control System.
“This mission provided 1st Combat Comm with a great opportunity to integrate its wide range of rapidly deployable communication capabilities with the air operations center,” said Tech. Sgt. Charles Minor, deployed 1st CBCS crew chief. “Our team was able to provide non-secure and secure voice-over Internet protocol, DSN, secure video teleconferencing, NIPR, SIPR, and radio assets which enabled complete command and control over the Albanian airspace.”
The deployed commnications team is designed to handle the huge responsibility of providing reachback command and control to enable the detachment commander with the ability to stay in contact with the Air Operations Center.
Airman 1st Class Foster Kyles, for example, as the radio technician on the team, establishes connectivity between the forward air operation center and the pilots in the air.
“Since we all have separate career fields, our ability to work as a team was heavily relied upon,” said Airman Kyles. “Our commitment to back up our wingman was seen time and time again as we successfully completed the mission.”
“I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be part of such an important and historic mission,” said Senior Airman James McCrea, deployed radio technician. “As my first deployment, I was anxious to utilize all of the training I have received on a high- level mission such as this.”
