Combat comm hooks up VIPER LANCE: F-16s fly for first time in Romania

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Public Affairs
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania --  One mile of cable, six pallets of equipment and three days to set up fully functioning communications for a forward base is standard work for members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron. 

About 13 members of the 1st CBCS, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are here in support of Exercise VIPER LANCE 2006, a bilateral exercise with members of the Romanian Air Force Aug. 8-25. The exercise marks the first time U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons pilots have trained in the country. 

"Our squadron is responsible for deployable, short-notice communications and airfield support for (U.S. Air Forces in Europe)," said 1st Lt. James Curbo, 1st CBCS officer-in-charge of the communications detachment. "We act as the main source of deployable communications in USAFE, and we are sent out to a forward location before the mission arrives." 

The comm detachment provides support for an airfield tactical navigation beacon that planes use for directions and distance; as well as ground-to-air and land mobile radios; and network and phone support for all deployed members. 

"The Air Force and combat communications have a good reputation for short-notice taskings in US European Command," the lieutenant said. "All of our gear is designed to transport immediately, so we're trained and ready to set up a base camp anytime and anywhere." 

Meeting deployed communications needs from remote locations allows Airmen to flex their mental muscle and put their training to good use. 

"While we're out here, we get to cover all aspects of our job and actually use the skills we learn in our career field," said Staff Sgt. Frank Chidester, 1st CBCS data technician. "Here, I'm able to get my hands dirty out in the field." 

The combat comm does not consist of just data and radio maintenance technicians here -- the team has civil engineering squadron members as well. Each deployed detachment brings an electrical power production member who operates and maintains the generator, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintainer to help keep the computers and equipment cool in the summer sun. 

"Before we head out to a location, we ensure our equipment is serviceable and ready to go," Lieutenant Curbo said. 

The pallets, the cables and wires, and the hundreds of pounds of equipment shipped to Romania from the communications backbone of Exercise VIPER LANCE 2006 here.
"We're here to make sure the mission is a success and that communications are readily available for the troops here."