• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

1st Combat Communications Squadron up and running in Sierra Leone

USAFE News

Release Date: 7/29/2003

By Capt. Kristi Beckman 398th Air Expeditionary Group

(USAFENS) -- Faster than a 1,500-kilobit data transfer. More powerful than a military electric power 806 generator. Able to leap 20-foot antennas at a single bound. It's 1st Combat Communications Squadron!

1st CBCS, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, flew into Sierra Leone to set up communications for the 398th Air Expeditionary Squadron who are providing personnel recovery and emergency evacuation capability for the Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team in Liberia.

This is just the latest of the plethora of places 1st CBCS has conquered. Following their motto of "first in, last out," they have established communications at 50 plus locations and their last setup was in Turkey supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Master Sgt. Jeffrey Cockerill, deployed communications flight leader, said they were tasked to deploy here and build up communication infrastructure. "Our goal is to hit the ground running and provide communication services as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours.

"Here, we only brought 10 people, but we can deploy as a self-sustaining unit if necessary," said Cockerill. "Within the squadron, we are trained to provide our own security, airfield systems, satellite terminals, data networks, voice systems and support functions."

This is Cockerill's first time to Africa, but 1CBCS has been pretty much all over this part of the world. The 1CBCS is the most highly decorated non-flying unit in the Air Force.

"We're not the only combat communications squadron, but we are considered the best, the elite," said Staff Sgt. Carlos Ornelas, satellite wideband telecommunications technician.

Ornelas said he installs the USC-60 satellite terminal, which is the pipeline for the communications systems. "The satellite is the link to the outside world, the way for the deployed personnel to communicate."

Once the satellite is up and running, that's when Airman 1st Class Jason Bush, network control center deployed administrator, here on his first deployment, takes over. "I help run the computer network," said Bush. "I hook up all the secure and non-secure connections and exchange accounts. I love this job. I did this as a hobby before I joined the Air Force."

One of the biggest obstacles the squadron had to overcome is the heat and humidity of Africa.

"We have 14 servers in one tent and our equipment is heat sensitive, so we had to acquire local air conditioners," said Ornelas. "That affected our setup by two days."

The power to all of the equipment is provided by Senior Airman David Hollis, power production journeyman. This is his first year with the squadron and his first deployment with them. The Indiana native said Africa is 'kinda hot', but he says it's good to adventure out and see a new place.

"All of us were excited to come here, to help out with this mission," said Cockerill. "We're at the tip of the spear here, supporting the action and we've got a great team mentality with this small group of people working together.