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PACAF hosts comm equipment training for Active Duty, Guard

  • Published
  • By James Crawford
  • Pacific Air Forces
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces recently concluded two weeks of intensive training on the theater deployable communication equipment used by units that have air expeditionary force deployments. 

Forty-three students from Hickam, Kadena AB, Misawa AB, Yokota AB, Japan, Hilo and Maui all came together for this training. 

"This training event is a perfect example [of] the growing and successful partnership
between the active and guard forces and has laid the foundation for future opportunities in the Pacific AOR," said Col. Dave Hunninghake, PACAF, network branch chief. 

The equipment used in the training included satellite terminals, voice switches, secure and non-secure data networks, wireless terminals, multiplexers and network control centers modules. All of this equipment is referred to as the Initial Communication Access Package. 

This deployable equipment system enables a unit with an AEF mission to deploy and open up a base and provide voice and data services for 1,200 to 1,500 people. 

Instructors from the Air Force Engineering and Technical Services taught classes for engineers, telephone technicians, network and LAN administrators, network control center personnel. A satellite communication class was instructed by Airman 1st Class Kevin Moses, 35th Communications Squadron, Misawa AB. 

During the first week, students focused on classes and during the second week of training they tested out this theory and applied what they had learned. The students were divided up into to two teams with all the equipment needed to build the two networks simulating two bases. The first task lasted for three days and the last one was timed to see which site could activate sites and get communications set up quickest. 

"[I am] Extremely pleased that we're continuing the great total force partnership we've had with PACAF over the past decade," said Col Robert Maglasang, 201 CCG commander. "[We] trained PACAF Communication Squadrons via the [Initial Communication Access Package] unit familiarization program after acquiring the initial ICAP suites. Now PACAF via AFETS is returning the favor. Thanks for your support and efforts. [We] look forward to more of these vital classes". 

This type of training has been taught on the mainland at various bases but this is the first time this level of training has been accomplished in the PACAF Command. This is just the first of many training opportunities that will be accomplished in the future. PACAF's goal is to support two Continuation Training venues a year to ensure warfighters in this AOR are ready to do their jobs.