Combat Comm Airmen connect U.S., Japan during Keen Sword 11

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KOMATSU AIR SELF DEFENSE FORCE BASE, Japan --  More than 25 members of the 644th Combat Communication Squadron from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are hard at work providing communication capabilities to U.S. Air Force Airmen at Komatsu Japanese Air Self Defense Force Base.

The Andersen Airmen are teaming up with Airmen from Osan Air Base, Korea; Misawa AB, Japan; and Langley AFB, Virginia.  Together, they work side-by-side with their Japanese counterparts in support of the Japan-wide bilateral field training exercise, Keen Sword 2011.

Scheduled for December 3-10, the exercise marks the tenth joint, bilateral field training exercise involving the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military and will cap the 50th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. alliance. Large-scale exercises like Keen Sword 2011 enable Airmen from the combat communications squadron to focus on wartime readiness execution and support.

"Keen Sword is very similar to our warfighter support missions and our close collaboration with host-nation agencies also demonstrates our building partnership capabilities," Capt. Jimmy Harrington, 644th CBCS director of operations and deployed site commander, said. "As part of the 36th Contingency Response Group, we rapidly deploy to support the 'airbase opening mission' and respond to contingencies across the full spectrum of war, including humanitarian relief operations."

"We provide voice, data, radio and telephone support with both secure and unsecure networks for the Airmen here at Komatsu," Captain Harrington added.

With such a diverse mission set, combat communications capabilities and execution tie directly to the 36th Wing's mission to provide sovereign options to decisively employ airpower across the entire spectrum of engagement, the captain said.

While the 644th CBCS is inherently designed to provide all their own support to include lodging, food, fuel, power and forklift, Captain Harrington said his team appreciates the fixed facilities and outstanding base support at Komatsu.

What is different about the squadron's operations at Keen Sword is not so much their mission, but how they are carrying it out, the captain said.

"This is the first time we're working with the U.S. and Japanese coalition networks" said Captain Harrington. "So far, it's good and we've had no issues."

As with any operation, there are challenges to overcome, and the Airmen from the 644 CBCS aren't immune to them.

"Dealing with the unknown is always difficult," said the captain. "We have several conditions to consider, and although we've been planning for this mission for more than a year, anything can go wrong."

Despite working with a new network system, the captain said his team has met the customer's timeline and effectively provided radio, voice and data communication for the Airmen working at Komatsu.

"We've done great, worked through frustrations ... and the biggest thing is, we've given the customer what they need," Captain Harrington said.

Keen Sword 2011 is a routine join military exercise designed to enhance interoperability and the readiness of alliance forces.