Radar crew watches Africa sky, works alongside Marines in presidential mission

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kathy Ferrero
  • Joint Task Force - Nomad Fire Public Affairs
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania --  Airmen of the 603rd Air Control Squadron packed up more than 200 thousand pounds of equipment to deploy here as part of Joint Task Force - Nomad Fire in support of President George W. Bush's visit to Africa. 

The unit from Aviano AB, Italy, helps provide air surveillance using a TPS-75 radar and takes pride in its expeditionary capability.

"We watch the skies anywhere the skies need to be watched," said Senior Airman Matthew Phaneuf, 603rd ACS satellite and wideband communications technician.

The unit is capable of setting up, maintaining, monitoring, and moving the TPS-75, said Lt. Col. Troy Jackson, 603 ACS.

The TPS-75 can detect air activity for hundreds of miles and report it to observers within ten seconds, according to Staff Sgt. Nelson Gonzalez, the radar's maintenance technician.

Marines also deployed here in support of the president's visit, which brought new experiences for both.

When the Marine unit first arrived, the 603rd ACS provided them with extra tent room and meals, ready to eat.

"They thought they were going to have nothing but mosquito nets and sleeping bags," Sergeant Gonzalez said. "It was cool to be able to provide that for them." 

In turn, the Marines provided their extra manpower to help secure the radar site, Colonel Jackson said. While the Marines and Airmen have encountered some cultural differences, they share the same mission of supporting the presidential visit. 

"No matter what JTF you belong to, when you leave at the end of the day it always comes together because individual servicemembers make it come together regardless of rivalries," said Maj. Dolan Pica, commanding officer of the deployed Marine unit. "When it comes down to it, we make a pretty awesome team."