644 CBCS enhances training for XCOMM Airmen

  • Published
  • By A1C Natasha Ninete
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  

As the world of communication continues to evolve, so must the expertise and capabilities of Airmen in Expeditionary Communications (XCOMM) across the U.S. Air Force.

To enhance the knowledge and versatility of XCOMM Airmen, the 644th Combat Communications Squadron (CBCS) launched an Initial Qualification Training (IQT) course and field training exercise (FTX) to teach Airmen how to do more than just their Air Force Specialty Code in order to maintain combat readiness.

The IQT consisted of 17 Airmen of various ranks from the 644 CBCS, 293 CBCS, and 36 CRS who all completed technical training in one of the four AFSCs that now makeup XCOMM; server operations, client systems, radio technicians, and network infrastructure. By the end of the training, the Airmen were capable of performing all four jobs as well as basic functions from 3 other AFSCs (PowerPro, HVAC, and Supply) in a deployment-like situation.

 “We’re giving everybody that base knowledge, so we don’t have to worry about who’s available to do the job in a high priority mission,” said Tech. Sgt. John Drum, training noncommissioned officer in charge and FTX lead. “It alleviates that manning constraint in a way.”

Drum, whose call sign was “Dragon” during the FTX, spent about five months planning the IQT curriculum and FTX components along the rest of the 644 CBCS XCOMM Development Section. The Airmen practiced standing up network operations centers, erecting high frequency antennas and satellite communication dishes to secure communications between their Forward Operating Bases, Wing Operations Center, and Air Operations Center.

Other Airmen from the 644 CBCS who were not students in the IQT were role players that utilized the simulated deployed locations to complete their daily work tasks while also implementing injects such as interfering with equipment, eliciting information, or acting as upper leadership and learning about their mission. Maj. Alexander Shin, commander of the 644 CBCS, acted as a four-star general from Pacific Air Forces to test the students’ professionalism and proficiency when asked questions.

“More than anything, we’re evaluating their work ethic and their ability to invest that time and effort into learning,” said Drum.

The 644 CBCS is also home to the only tactical Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations team in the PACAF region whose role in the FTX was to find and listen in on the radio frequencies used by each team. Within one hour, they successfully accessed the radio traffic, acquired information, and recorded radio transmissions.

“Their role is to make us smarter as a squadron,” said Drum. “They give us a better understanding of what we look like and how adversaries can access our information so that we can implement countermeasures like using brevity codes or securing our radio traffic.”

Drum considered the IQT and FTX a success given the students’ ability to take the lessons learned during class and conduct a successful simulated deployment. From using forklifts to move their equipment to sites, to standing up their network operations centers and HF antennas inside of the 2-hour time limit, and finally being able to provide reliable comms to customers throughout the FTX while enacting appropriate countermeasures during scenario-based intruder alerts and security breaches.

 Airman 1st Class Trey Ricks, originally trained in client systems before the shift to XCOMM, was one student in the IQT whose training was put to the test.

“The FTX was definitely the most difficult part about the course,” said Ricks. “While challenging at times, this course was the best way to teach us about the other AFSCs.”

The deployment-style approach and getting thrown hypothetical situations, from broken equipment to dealing with customer shaving system access issues, were what Ricks explained to be most challenging in the FTX.

“I do feel more comfortable with the other jobs now,” said Ricks. “I love the mission and that we have to support other units and countries with our equipment and make sure our communications are up.”

In the end, Ricks’ adversity during the FTX and enthusiasm for his job were what earned him the distinguished graduate certificate at the end of the course.

“The world works on Comm,” said Drum. “Secure high frequency communication is an optimal way for us to communicate with the rest of the world in a highly contested and degraded communications environment.”

The 644 CBCS is one of only four active-duty combat communication squadrons in the Air Force and the only one in PACAF. The IQT course proves XCOMM to be invaluable, not only to the 644 CBCS, but to the Air Force as a whole by producing Mission Ready Airmen.

“We’re constantly preparing for the future and seeing how we can look and do better for when we are preparing to execute the pacing Operations Plan (OPLAN),” said Drum.