Wired for war

  • Published
  • By SrA Jacob Jimenez
  • 482d Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAS FT WORTH JRB, TEXAS --  Providing vital communication capabilities to the 301st Fighter Wing is the job of the 301st Communication Flight. The flight exercised their collective skills August 8 through 12 in preparation for the wing's Operational Readiness Inspection scheduled to begin at the end of February 2012.

During the five days of training, Airmen of 301st "Comm Flight" prepared for real-world scenarios where they would have to take immediate action to administer self aid buddy care.

"In the field when an incident takes place, Airmen won't have time to consult a manual. They need know what to do," said Master Sergeant Daryl Lamb, Cyber systems superintendent.

The Airmen practiced responding to heat illness and cold wounds, shock and trauma, burns and flesh wounds, and abdominal and chest wounds among others. They applied bandages, splints, tourniquets, blood clotting agents and more.

"Our goal is to learn to respond to an incident with quick action with the proper procedures to save lives", said Staff Sgt. Robert Catts from 301st CF.

They also practiced setting up a remote Joint Incident Site Communications Capability (JISCC) while operating in a chemically-contaminated environment.

"A two hour computer-based course is not sufficient," said Catts. "Airmen need to be allowed to practice hands-on and make mistakes until they respond properly and taking those measures is second nature to them.

The Airmen practiced responding to ground, air and chemical attacks while reacting to alarm conditions. The flight performed different duties in Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear. Airmen donned gear for appropriate alarm conditions and simulated decontaminating and treating each other against chemical agents.

Setting up a JISCC was another major part of the training. A JISCC is commonly used as a communications bridge between a headquarters, first responders and other local, state and federal agencies.

"For this unit's mission, it's essential they provide a means of communication and a central point of command & control in the event of an emergency, "said Master Sergeant Anthony Rubio from the 482nd Fighter Wing Communications Squadron, who assisted the 301st the exercise.

Flight members practiced assembling a JISCC under the instruction of Sergeants Rubio and Lamb who helped ensure nothing was overlooked. Airmen had to align the satellite with the equator and make sure it was level with nothing obstructing it from receiving and sending strong signals.

Once assembled and powered, the JISCC provided a host of capabilities, including wireless internet, radio, phone and video teleconferencing.

Reservists operated the JISCC and its different communication capabilities.

"I'm proud that Communications personnel have been recognized as a legitimate weapons system in the U. S. Air Force Mission Statement, -- to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace. We've come of age," said Major David Bryant, Commander of 301st CF.