242 CBCS participates in Agile Phoenix Exercise

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Rose M Lust | SrA Chase Morrow, Radio Frequency Transmission technician with the 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, connects the modem on the Airbus 2400. The Airbus is a parabolic antenna used for satellite communications.  

SPOKANE, WA, UNITED STATES

05.02.2021

Story by Tech. Sgt. Rose M Lust 

141st Air Refueling Wing

Ne plus ultra. This Latin phrase roughly translates to “nothing more beyond.” That’s the motto of the 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, a geographically separated Air National Guard Unit from the 194th Wing, attached to the 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.
This past week the 242nd CBCS had the chance to put their motto to the test and participate in a multi-unit exercise, Agile Phoenix, from April 24 to May 2. The objective of the exercise was to mobilize Guardsmen in a bare base scenario and provide communications to the 262nd Cyber Operations Squadron as well as the 194th Intelligence Squadron in order for them to complete their mission.
“We’re basically participating in a deployed environment, in our tents, providing all of our own organic power with generators and security, just as if we were in the middle of nowhere,” said Lt. Col. Charles Parsons, 242nd CBCS commander. “We haven’t been able to perform our mission as an entire team in over a year because of issues with COVID…this is what we’re all about.”
In participating in the exercise, the 242nd had the unique opportunity to employ their newest cyber system, dubbed the Flexible Communications Package, and prepare to run a cyber security assessment to guarantee secure, impenetrable lines of communication on the network.
The 242nd was one of only two Air National Guard units in a pilot program to run the new Flexible Communication Package, which is a scalable communications suite that can support large scale needs from 10 users up to 1,200 within one network.
“It’s a big deal for us to be here,” said Parsons. “This was the first time my unit has had the chance to use the new cyber system in the field with customers. It was great to validate the system and I give it a thumbs up.”
The new communication package offers the ability to scale its reach because not all missions require the same amount of support. Commanders at deployed locations can decide their needs, which is beneficial in that it can be quickly adjusted by changing the amount of equipment mobilized.
“Previous iterations of equipment were not like that,” said Parsons. “Think of it as having one 50-pound hammer and that’s all you have to get a job done, no matter the size. This new package allows us to adjust the extent of it to fit the supported commander’s needs.”
Many components of the package are also now virtual, like cloud-hosted services. This feature makes the package lighter in weight, more cost-effective, and allows for less potential damage of assets because it isn’t necessary to deploy additional equipment.
“It provides us with more capabilities,” said Master Sgt. Kalina Bryan, a 242nd CBCS shift lead working in cyber operations. “It’s consolidated a lot of things which is nice for space saving and maintenance; it’s similar to our previous equipment but having the ease of going virtual is a big benefit.”
Along with new virtual capabilities also comes updated equipment on the ground, like the power provided from generators to the communication units.
“This is our first exercise using these new generators in the real-world and everything went flawlessly,” said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Gilmore, a power production technician with the 242nd CBCS, “They’re a simpler start up, smaller, lighter, and much more efficient on fuel, with the same amount of power. We’ve very impressed.”
The new generators are not only smaller and more efficient, but they are much quieter, allowing for units to house them closer to communication centers creating a smaller overall footprint.
“It is as much about getting our team out in the field as it is the mission,” said Parsons. “Seeing Airmen interact like they’re seeing family again has been a great morale boost for the unit.”
The blows COVID has dealt over the past year have presented challenges in more ways than anyone could have imagined. This exercise allowed members of the 242nd CBCS to not only test their new capabilities, but also once again to work side by side as a team to meet mission requirements.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2021
• Date Posted: 05.13.2021 17:52
• Story ID: 396353
• Location: SPOKANE, WA, US