Battle Creek Guard NCO, Kalamazoo native, provides communications support for Southwest Asia base

Photo By Master Sgt. Jenifer Calhoun | Staff Sgt. Shawn Hatfield is a cyber transport journeyman assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Here he is pictured on May 14. Hatfield is deployed from the Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Communications Flight, 110th Airlift Wing, at Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport. His hometown is Kalamazoo, Mich.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

05.21.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A person could easily say "from Kalamazoo to Southwest Asia too" when talking about Staff Sgt. Shawn Hatfield's latest deployment. The six-year veteran of the Air Force and the Air National Guard has traveled the world far from his hometown.

History shows the name behind Hatfield's hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich., can be linked to a number of names including some from the Potawatomi native Americans who lived there in the early 1800's. However many questions arise about his hometown's name, Hatfield said there is no question about his dedication to working as a cyber transport craftsman with the 380th Expeditionary Communications Squadron.

"In my deployed job, I work with the client support team in the squadron," said Hatfield, who is deployed to a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia from the Michigan Air National Guard's 110th Communications Flight, 110th Airlift Wing, at Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport. "We fix computer issues, process user accounts, maintain equipment - we are the face of our deployed communications squadron. On a daily basis, I can do anything from fixing e-mail issues for an enlisted Airman to rebuilding an essential mission-planning workstation for a deployed officer. It's always busy for us."

According to the official Air Force job description for the cyber transport career field, Airmen like Hatfield deploy, sustain, troubleshoot and repair standard voice, data and video network infrastructure systems, Internet protocol detection systems and cryptographic equipment. They perform, coordinate, integrate and supervise network design, configuration, operation, defense, restoration and improvements.

Cyber transport Airmen also analyze capabilities and performance, identify problems and take corrective action. They fabricate, terminate and interconnect wiring and associated network infrastructure devices. In short, they are computer network hardware and communication equipment specialists, the job description states.

"Communications are an essential part of the mission for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing," Hatfield said. "Everyone relies on our technology to 'communicate' the mission."

Hatfield noted he is "very proud" to serve in the U.S. military and thanks to this deployment, he has grown in skills and abilities.

"I originally joined the Air National Guard to help pay for college," Hatfield said. "After joining, I found that serving in the military was very rewarding and offered more opportunities other than college. Deploying is tough but exciting. It's a great way to get hands-on experience that will benefit my Guard unit when I return."

Hatfield redeploys in May 2010.

The 380th ECS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, air battle management, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2010
• Date Posted: 05.21.2010 01:10
• Story ID: 50032
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)