Airmen work behind scenes to support communication

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Real-time communication is an everyday occurrence, whether it be chatting online, sending e-mail or using social networking Web sites. Whereas a few hours down time at Facebook may be an inconvenience, uninterrupted real-time communications is the standard in the Korean area of responsibility--the air component depends on it to command, control and fight the air war.

The cyber professionals counted upon to deliver that standard-the Airmen of the 607th Air and Space Communications Squadron--work mostly behind the scenes at the Korea Air and Space Operations Center. Virtually every part of the AOC weapon system is provided by one of the myriad of communications equipment these Airmen support every day.

"We maintain and operate all AOC C4 [Command, Control, Communications and Computers] systems," said Capt Jonathan Cabillan, 607 ACOMS Deputy Chief of AOC Systems. "Without C4, there is no AOC."

The Airmen work alongside other military servicemembers as part of a joint/coalition environment conducting 24-hour operations during Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2009, an annual command and control command post exercise.

The Republic of Korea and the U.S. militaries have exercised Ulchi Freedom Guardian for more than 30 years; and with communications technology continually advancing, the ACOMS Airmen are instrumental to ensuring a successful mission across the board.

"ACOMS support to the CNAF's weapons system is critical," said Col. John Marselus, 607 AOC commander. "Without the support and dedication of the Airmen in the 607 ACOMS the AOC would never be able to plan, command and control, execute, and assess air, space, and cyberspace major combat operations."

"It's a lot more of a high-tempo experience," said Staff Sgt. Danny Twyman, currently augmenting the 607 ACOMS. Sergeant Twyman is here from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., as one of hundreds of augmentees to support the increased manpower requirements of a wartime AOC and to help maintain communications every hour of every day.

Some of the systems ACOMS Airmen can be found working on are Theater Battle Management Core System, coalition and U.S. networking, tactical datalinks, video teleconferencing, radio systems and much, much more.

"We take care of the communications for the AOC and its warfighters," said Airman Bryan Dimick, an ACOMS Communications Focal Point Technician. "We give communications service and capability to them." 

"It's an outstanding opportunity to be here," said Sergeant Twyman.

Although his job responsibilities are the same as his CONUS home station, Sergeant Twyman noted, "It takes me out of the routine working here, especially working in a combined environment with the Republic of Korea military."

Although Communications Focal Points are similar across the Air Force, Airmen assigned to the 607 ACOMS experience a higher operational tempo that comes with being closer than most to the "tip of the spear," as well as work alongside ROK forces. This is a unique communications assignment opportunity. These Airmen get to experience firsthand all of the evolving C4 changes as U.S. Forces Korea works to transfer operational control of forces to the ROK military in 2012.

"The Air and Space Operations Center is all about making, then relaying, timely decisions. Flip charts, grease pencils and magnet boards aren't going to cut it--this place is completely dependent upon its vast array of communications and information systems," said Lt. Col. Arnold Saunders, 607 ACOMS commander.