SOUTH KOREA –In a recent joint operation, the 133rd Communications Squadron (CS) and the 934th CSparticipatedin a fifteen-day training mission at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The teams collaborated on a project for the 51st CS, aiming to share resources and gain valuable experience.
In the first week, the teams held an orientation to coordinate plans and meet their counterparts. This initial cohesion was crucial for mapping out a successful strategy for the rest of the trip.
“I was excited to be selected as a leader on this trip and enjoyed being the ‘experienced guy’ who got to see the whole plan and assign tasks based on my knowledge of the team,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Rominski, 133rd CS. “It was enlightening to work jointly with the 133rd and 934th professionals and merge our talents with the 51st team.”
During the second week, the joint force began the hands-on portion of the project. They decommissioned and removed numerousun supported, end-of-life systems from the 51st CS cold storage and server rooms. A significant part of this effort involved dismantling and removing 22 system racks from the legacy MSL-100 telephone switching system. The equipment removed had an estimated original value of around $3.8 million. The work of the removal saved roughly $320,000. This massive effort allowed for the expansion of their network.
“Coming to a base overseas really gave me perspective of how we operate and how our part in the mission comes to play,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jack Witta, 133rd CS. “Without the perspective, it is harder to see why we do the things we do.”
The 51st CS expressed great appreciation for the efficiency and teamwork that made the large-scale project possible, as did the 133rd and 934th, for giving them the opportunity to help.
“Working with the 934th on this mission greatly improved our team’s capability and knowledge,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jaden Dallenbach, 133rd CS. “The compatibility of our teams was surprising, especially since I have never worked with their team before.”
Over the two weeks, both squadrons gained invaluable experience in decommissioning servers at scale. Having returned, both units see the potential for future joint missions, which will help sustain a great partnership.