Photo By Lt. Col. Michelle Lunato | The Air Force team assigned the 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, a Reserve unit...... read more read more
As the war in Afghanistan progresses, so does the mission for signalers. The requirements of the warfighters mature each and every week. Without the means to communicate effectively, their tasks are more intricate, more dangerous. For Task Force Thunder personnel, this translates into a constantly developing and increasingly complex set of tasks.
To support this continually changing environment, the signal team must expand and diversify. It is not just a mission for soldiers. It is a joint effort that requires signal expertise from Airmen as well.
Having a varied team is exactly what it takes to keep up with the challenges in communication technology while at war, said Air Force Lt. Col. Janice G. Gray, deputy director, Joint NetOps Control Center – Afghanistan. “We are a different flavor based on our knowledge and experience.”
Being signal experts who were trained in a dissimilar type of environment than Soldiers, gives us another perspective, she added. “We are able to look at the mission in a different way and bring our expertise to the table.”
Getting the mission done is the bottom line of course, but, there are always different ways of doing things, said Air Force Master Sgt. John L. Milne, non-commissioned officer in charge, joint automation management operation at the JNCC-A. “It is almost a mirror image, but with a little twist.”
With the vast growth of troops in Afghanistan, the signal needs have grown exponentially, said Air Force Capt. Eric Zymboly, officer in charge, NetOps, JNCC-A. “There is so much more complexity to the network now.”
And that complexity is exactly why the Air Force needs to be a part of the team, said Army MSG Steven Rusmey, non-commissioned officer in charge, NetOps, JNCC-A. “With the diversity that they bring, they help us put it all together so there is no gap.”
Breaks in network service to the warfighters can be critical and try to be avoided at all costs, said Gray. So when the signal task force headquarters rotated soldiers from the 7th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade to the 359th TTSB, the Air Force team was there to maintain mission consistency, added Gray. “We were able to bridge the gap, and hopefully, make it a little more seamless of a change over.”
Consistency in service doesn’t mean there is a lack of development though, said Air Force 1st Lt. Gilberto Perez, senior battle captain, NetOps, JNCC-A. “Our different perspectives help us get out of the monotony of doing the same things over and over again.”
Like all technology, things change at light speed here, said Milne. Now, add the challenges of war on top of that, and you have a complex mission that requires a lot of expertise, said Army Sgt. Maj. Andrew J. Scheuermann III, sergeant major, JNCC-A. “The Air Force personnel we have assigned to the JNCC are all extremely proficient in their fields,” and having that “allows us to look at and attack problems from more than one view point.”
Without different vantage points and skill sets, the mission could not be completed as efficiently and successfully, said Army LTC Teri A. Hassell, deputy commander, Task Force Thunder. “Make no mistake, this is a team effort. Without everyone’s help, we could not support the warfighters.”
By supporting the warfighters via a successful signal mission, there is a future benefit for the country, said Army Lt. Col. John H. Phillips, director, JNCC. “We are building an infrastructure that will benefit the Afghan population.”
So together, Airmen and Soldiers build a team and get the job done. Yes, one service could to the mission, but, there is more success with a diverse team, said Scheuermann.
“Regardless, the mission will be complete, but I sure would not want to be here without the Air Force.”
| Date Taken: | 09.13.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2010 14:37 |
| Story ID: | 56255 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 12 |
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