MODERNIZATION EFFORTS ... - Air Force Network Integration Center

Korea
COMBAT COMM TRANSFORMS
ITS OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT
By Capt. David Abel
607th Combat Communications Squadron
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea
— During an exercise in 2006, Airmen
here convoyed their Theater Deployable
Communications equipment with dozens
of tactical vehicles that towed heavy
AN/TSC-100A satellite comm terminals,
20-foot antennas, water tankers, and fuel
trailers.
They paraded this heavy metal through
the crowded streets of Korea to an 18-acre
combat communications compound, and
then off to seven different sites throughout
the Republic of Korea.
These convoys were capable of deploying
virtually anywhere, including
completely desolate locations, to set up a
robust communications infrastructure.
Fast-forward one year to the same location and
the same exercise. But now, there’s only a handful
of blue pickup trucks at Camp Humphreys, each
loaded with just a few Airmen and their personal
gear. The teams inconspicuously maneuver
the Korean highways and arrive at sites
where their equipment is stored in small
shelters.
From storage, they pull the brandnew,
compact AN/TSC-168 Quad-band
dual-Hub SATCOM, known as QHSAT,
terminals, and its 2.4 meter antennas.
Just as they had done last year, the (much
smaller) team supports critical command
and control infrastructure in Korea.
This is just one example of the transformation
that took place within the squadron.
“The 607th CBCS was transforming before
transforming became popular,” said Senior Master
Sgt. Kenneth R. Lier, the squadron’s chief enlisted
manager. “We’re pioneers of asset recapitalization.”
Under the old paradigm, combat communications
was completely self-sufficient,
providing its own power, food and security.
For stateside combat communications
units going to a bare base, this makes
sense. However, in Korea, many units, re-
sources, and assets are deployed-in-place,
so the old way represented an inefficient
use of scarce resources.
The 607th CBCS transformation improved resource
sharing with other units, specifically helping
to stand up a PACAF theater-wide combat comm
capability, upgrading technology, cross-training of
Airmen, and merging of fixed and tactical communications
assets.
Significant technical gains were
achieved by replacing the aging TSC-100A
terminals with the more capable QHSATs.
“Comparing the 100A and QHSAT
is like comparing a 70s era car with a
modern vehicle,” said Master Sgt. Robert
Eiszler, maintenance flight chief. “The
QHSAT is lighter, more capable, and
requires less maintenance than its predecessor.”
Pre-positioning equipment at the deployed
sites and employing support from other organizations
significantly reduced transportation requirements.
Korea’s 607th CBCS of yesteryear had more
than 300 tactical vehicles and was PACAF’s largest
single tactical fleet. Now, these tactical vehicles
can be replaced by blue fleet vehicles.
The results of the transformation are
nothing short of astounding. Unit manning
has been reduced from 250 Airmen
to 23. The unit’s operational budget was
slashed by 30 percent. Maintenance and
sustainment costs were reduced by 60 percent.
Available bandwidth was increased
by 600 percent, and commercial satellite
bands are now accessible, greatly improving
wartime flexibility.
The final step of the transformation will be to
align the remaining squadron members as a flight
under the 607th Air and Space Communications
Squadron at Osan Air Base.
Lt. Col. Paul R. Francis, 607th ACOMS
commander, said, “Moving the combat
comm mission to 607th ACOMS will be
the perfect integration of two units who
are already supporting the Korean Air Operations
Center. We’re merging the team
that works on systems in the AOC with the
team that extends those capabilities to all
remote air bases throughout the Republic
of Korea.”
By Maj. Bryan Richardson
8th Communications Squadron
KUnSAn AIR BASE, Republic of Korea
— The 8th Communications Squadron, commonly
known as Wolf Comm, provides vital
support for command, control, communications,
and computer systems at the 8th Fighter
Wing.
The squadron uses several programs to enable
the wing to accomplish its mission.
COMMUNITY OF INTEREST NETWORK
One program area Wolf Comm has integrated
into its mission is a Community of Interest
Network, or COIN. This network allows U.S.
warfighters to coordinate with South Korean
allies as it is a “releasable” to Korea system. By
using the collaboration tool, leaders across the 8th FW
can collaborate with counterparts from the Republic of
Korea Air Force as well as 7th Air Force.
This allows leaders to better command and
control their forces from a peninsula-wide perspective.
The COIN system has already proven
itself valuable during numerous exercises, allowing
information access at a moment’s notice.
Implementation of the COIN system is just
one example of Wolf Comm’s continued excellence.
DEFENSE SWITCHED NETWORK
Another example of the superb work by
Wolf Comm’s Airmen, civilians, and contractors
lies in the Technical Control Facility and
the Defense Switched Network work centers.
Both were recently recognized by the Defense
Information Systems Agency with Facility of
the Year awards for all of Korea, besting 18 other
locations.
The DSN work center also attained several
accomplishments which contribute to Wolf
Pack’s mission. They initiated two major system
enhancements and resolved two outages, as
well as mapping out telephone requirements for
new dormitory projects. They also implemented
a system that enables emergency responders
to instantly pinpoint where 911 callers are located.
They accomplished all this while continually
providing official and unofficial telephone
services and 1,400 Internet service connections
for Wolf Pack’s 3,100 Airmen.
TECHNICAL CONTROL FACILITY
The TCF, which controls nearly all communications
traffic into and out of the wing,
initialized a data circuit that enabled a more
robust communications network for the Army
Patriot Battery located here.
In addition, they installed a new switching system
that provides dedicated voice service to Korean allies.
Inspectors praised each of these initiatives, along with
the work center’s technical expertise and ability to
restore communications in the face of natural disasters
and contingency actions.
A JOB WELL DONE
From implementing the COIN system to being
recognized as the best technical control and
DSN facilities on the peninsula, Wolf Comm
Airmen, civilians and contractors continue to
provide outstanding service. Their technical
expertise and dedication to the nation, as well
as Korean allies, enables the wing to successfully
accomplish its mission every day.
Defend the base
Take the fight north
Accept follow-on forces
4 intercom✭ June 2007
C4ISR ✭Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
intercom ✭ June 2007