News Search

20th Communications Squadron; keeping Airmen connected

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Blackwell
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  You finish writing your email, press send, and trust your computer to follow through. However, before your email is sent, your computer must process your request. Your computer's power supply routes electricity to vital components throughout its motherboard. The central processing unit in conjunction with the random-access memory helps quickly process and prepare your email for delivery. The hard drive, which houses your computer's software, drivers and operating system, is essential to this process as well. Cooling devices in your computer allow it to process information without overheating or causing internal damage. If your computer successfully completes these steps, your email is then jettisoned through Shaw's secure servers, ports and network system in the form of binary data to your recipient; where it is then decoded by their computer and received.

Something as simple as sending an email has many moving parts; when those parts aren't moving properly, the 20th Communications Squadron is called upon to resolve the issue.

Identifying and fixing technical computer issues, both hardware and software, can prove to be exceptionally difficult and are often outside the scope of the user. Such issues require the expertise of the 20th CS.

Individuals across base sometimes express frustration with what they feel are unnecessarily lengthy wait times in regards to the 20th CS timeliness in fixing equipment, explained Airman 1st Class Justin Pence, 20th CS client service technician. However, due to the complex nature of our job, the size of our squadron and the amount of hardware we are responsible for, it can be understandable that wait times may be longer than expected.

In addition to that, the 20th CS is responsible for much more than just the upkeep of base computers.

"In addition to computer, email, telephone, BlackBerry, and radio services," explained Master Sgt. Chad James, 20th CS acting first sergeant, "our squadron is also in charge of the Official Mail Center, 'giant voice', and public address support."

Because the 20th CS has such a broad range of responsibilities and a wide-spread effect on the 20th Fighter Wing, it requires a clearly defined mission to focus necessary assets responsibly and achieve mission success.

The 20th CS's mission is to provide superior command and control, communications, and mission-ready cyber operations and support forces to Team Shaw and worldwide operations.

Aside from having responsibilities that affect every Team Shaw member in the air and on the ground, the 20th CS must effectively complete their mission with a modest number of people.

The 20th CS is comprised of 165 members including active-duty military, civilians and contractors. Roughly 80 percent of the squadron is under the age of 25, and below the rank of E-6.

"With as small of a squadron as we are," said Lt. Col. Kevin Wilson, 20th CS commander, "I'm very proud (of) the work we accomplish."

The many roles the 20th CS fulfills allow Airmen and civilians alike, from pilots in the sky to Airmen at their desk, to successfully complete their missions.

Within the 20th CS there are many different tiers, shops and legs of operation that provide specific services to the base. One such service maintained by the 20th CS is airfield system operations.

This leg of the squadron makes it possible for pilots to do their jobs with confidence in the sky, knowing the equipment they depend on to fly, fight and win has been properly checked, maintained and cleared for use by the 20th CS.

Air surveillance radar systems are used to direct aircraft in their pattern and approach in designated airspace. The 20th CS also maintains and utilizes meteorological systems to guide aircraft out or around inclement weather and other aerial threats.

"As Air Combat Command's premier fighting force," James explained, "Shaw depends on the communications squadron to support and sustain the infrastructure required to ensure mission success. Simply put, 'no comm., no bomb."

Management and maintenance of all ultra high frequency (UHF) radios and very high frequency (VHF) radios are part of their duties as well. These radios and radio systems are primarily used for communication on the flight line where distance or noise interference would prohibit the necessary rapid exchange of vital information during operations.

The 20th CS is also responsible for overseeing the proper handling of anywhere from 13,000 to 14,000 pieces of official postal mail a month. The mail ranges in importance from promotion invitations and medical information to classified and secret documents.

The 20th CS also provides and facilitates some lesser known services such as the emergency calling stations around the base as well as overseeing the provision of cable television, base-wide.

However, the 20th CS is widely known as whom you need to call if your computer stops working, your internet is down or your phone does not have a dial tone.

"We manage over 6,000 computers on base including Poinsett Range," Pence explained. "With that many computers there's bound to be problems with them."

The 20th CS is very busy daily maintaining this equipment. Wait times for equipment or a technician may be extensive due to many variables, but are most commonly a result of the volume of trouble tickets and their priority.

Trouble tickets fall into two tiers once submitted. General users fall under tier two, while officers ranked colonel and above and "mission-critical machines" are ranked tier one priority.

"When we receive a tier one ticket it gets pushed to the top of the priority list," Pence explained. "With busier times come longer waits, but we do our best to fix the computers and get them back to the user."

The 20th CS is also entrusted with safeguarding sensitive cyber information as well, and must ensure that all of Shaw's cyber networks are functional, safe and operational at all times.

Base-wide, $600 million worth of equipment is under their care; $15 million and 10,000 pieces of said equipment are in the form of computers, printers, servers, etcetera.

If your phone has a dial tone, the 20th CS is to thank.

"A lot of time the only praise you get is when nothing's broke," explained Wilson. "I'm very proud of my people, and want to thank them for their hard work."

"Considering that at any given time our manning is down by 20 to 25 percent due to deployments," James said, "I'm amazed at the amount and quality of work that is accomplished."

A huge portion of their daily success can be attributed to their mission plan that targets three pillars and fosters an environment for success.

The 20th CS focuses on PME or people, mission and environment. They believe that when people are taken care of the mission takes care of itself.

Following that, knowing how to execute their mission is their number one priority.

Lastly, they feel that a positive work environment that people are excited to come to each day and which also challenges them is essential to mission success.

"Communications is paramount to any effective military operation," James added, "from basic radio, telephone, chat, and email to weapons systems level strategic planning and mission execution platforms."

Even though the squadron is small and the work load is big, Airmen within the squadron remain resilient.

"I enjoy the camaraderie that comes with a smaller squadron," James said. "We do a great job of taking care of each other."

The 20th CS does a great deal of administrative work behind the scenes that supports many basic functions required for Team Shaw to perform its mission on a daily basis. The services and professionalism the 20th CS provides daily are invaluable to the success of the 20th FW and the role it plays in the Air Force.

"The communications squadron's vision and daily goal is to be recognized as customer-first professionals, providing the best cyber operations and support services for mission success," Wilson concluded.