Airmen provide critical support to Soldiers during an Air and Missile Defense

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Healy | Spc. Robert Bowers monitors his terminal in the Tactical Operations Center of the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, located on Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, during the Air and Missile Defense Exercise, an annual exercise conducted by the air defense assets of the U.S. Army Central Command in Southwest Asia, 5 May, 2017. Bowers is ready to jump into action the split second that a missile launch is detected, initiating the chain of events that leads to shooting the missile out of the sky. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. John Healy, 108th ADA BDE)  

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR

06.10.2017

Story by Tech. Sgt. Amy Lovgren 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar – U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Expeditionary Communications Squadron provided support for the U.S. Army’s 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command before their air and missile defense exercise, May 10.

The purpose of the exercise was to practice battle drills, improve command and control and organize operational tactics with their subordinate units and joint partners throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Critical support elements needed to be in place before the 108th ADA BDE and the 32nd AAMDC could begin their exercise.

The first task required was to set up a communication network that covered multiple locations.

“The 379 ECS was tasked with providing a secure fiber connection path from [one building] to the 379 ECS’s Tech Control Facilities,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Donald McCants, project manager with the 379th Expeditionary Communication Squadron. “It would allow for connectivity to other Missile Defense Units stationed throughout U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”

Climate control was another service which was provided for the Soldiers working in field conditions. A team of four Airmen with the 379 ECES were able to provide support and ensure a sustainable environment for the Soldiers engaged in the exercise. Along with climate control support, Airmen from a separate 379 ECES section provided a generator to support the exercise.

“We provided four environmental control units. Before we brought the units to the Soldiers, we conducted routine maintenance,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alvin Griffin, HVAC journeyman with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. “After completing the repairs, we brought the units over to their tents and installed them.”

The services the Airmen provided did not go unrecognized by their new partners. Several 379 ECS and ECES airmen received certificates of appreciation by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Spillman, commander of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and others were coined by U.S. Army Col. Joseph McCallion, commander of the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

“The support we received from 379th ECS and 379th ECES was critical to us being able to conduct our Air and Missile Defense mission,” said U.S. Army Maj. Keith Johnson, brigade signal officer with the 108th ADA BDE. “Their support enabled us to conduct mission command with our subordinate units, 32nd AAMDC and our joint partners. We couldn't have successfully executed our mission without their support.”

• Date Taken: 06.10.2017
• Date Posted: 06.10.2017 03:10
• Story ID: 237185
• Location: AL UDEID AIR BASE, QA