ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - The first iteration of the Expeditionary Communications Course was held here Sept. 22 – Oct. 3, 2025.
The purpose of the 10-day course, hosted by 644th Combat Communications Squadron, is to enhance communication capabilities of Airmen in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
A total of 17 members assigned to 36th Communications Squadron, 734th Air Mobility Squadron and the 644th CBCS learned to and were equipped with mission-essential skills which have historically been gained only through deployment, preparing them to conduct operations in foreign climates.
“The idea behind this course was to equip Airmen with the skills necessary to operate in a variety of environments,” said Tech. Sgt. John Drum, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 644th CBCS. “We are the first boots on the ground during real-world events, so it's critical that we familiarize ourselves with the territory around us.”
Teams were challenged to infiltrate and secure small compounds, navigate through jungle environments for improvised explosive device identification and perform high frequency radio use while learning tactical team setup, radio etiquette, casualty recovery and room clearing.
“This course is a great baseline for many that never experienced this side of the warfighter career field,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jordan White, a radio frequency technician assigned to the 734th AMS. “It teaches the importance of teamwork and trust and allows me, as a team lead, to impart my knowledge onto others with limited experience.”
All Pacific Air Force units equipped with expeditionary communication kits –
portable systems designed to provide network, voice, and data access in austere environments – are eligible to attend the course.
The next iteration of the Expeditionary Communications Course is slated for March 2 – 13, 2026, and will continue preparing Airmen to provide communication support for contingency operations.