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Expeditionary comm. team overcomes hurdles to provide presidential support

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kathy Ferrero
  • Joint Task Force - Nomad Fire Public Affairs
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania --  An expeditionary communications unit here successfully overcame several challenges while supporting the president's three-day stopover to the east African nation.

During setup, the 1st Combat Communications Squadron team encountered computer power problems in the command and control tent. They quickly isolated random radar interference and devised a way to block it, said Col. Richard Robel, commander of the Joint Task Force - Nomad Fire (East).

"They were our first real operational capability. We couldn't have done it without them," Colonel Robel said. "We had numerous problems right off the bat, and they worked day and night for the first 36 hours trying to isolate them.

"They did an outstanding job complementing the 603rd (Air Combat Control Squadron) to get us exactly what we needed," he said.

Setup is typically the most difficult part of the job, said 2nd Lt. Dan Casey, Deployable Initial Communications Element officer in charge here.

"Everyone is looking to us to get established in those first few hours so they can make phone calls and get the information they need; and no matter where we go, there are always new challenges to overcome," Lieutenant Casey said.

But they are prepared to overcome. The five expert technicians on the team are familiar enough with each other's jobs to step in as needed, said Staff Sgt. Art Pancoast, element facility chief. They're also mission-ready for deployment within 24 hours.

"We really don't get a sense of fulfillment unless we deploy," he said.

DICE-4 includes a telephone technician, satellite communication technician, power and heating/air conditioning technician, computer technician and technical controller.

The six-person crew worked up to14-hour shifts during the president's visit to keep communications running at the Julius Nyerere International Airport site.

In addition to their expeditionary mindset, capabilities and expertise, working together with other units and services is ultimately how they pulled through.

"Each unit here learned quickly that they couldn't get the job done by themselves," Lieutenant Casey said. "I think it's been fun to learn what each unit brings to the table and work with them to find the best solution."