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Deployed Information Systems Flight, commander win top award for outstanding communications

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AFB, Texas --  Keeping lines of communication in good working order is what Airmen in the communications career field do. Reaping the benefits from maintaining good communications between Airmen and Soldiers is what earned Maj. Mark Rogers and the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron Information Systems Flight the title as the best communications squadron in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing for Air and Space Expeditionary Force deployment 3-4.

Major Rogers, Air Force Recruiting Service communications configuration management chief, recently returned from leave following his deployment to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, from September 2006 to January 2007. At Kirkuk RAB he commanded the 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron's Information Systems Flight, a 30-Airmen-unit, responsible for providing communications for about 4,000 U.S. Army soldiers, 500 Department of Defense employees and 900 additional Airmen.

His flight's six shops ensured that the base's secure and non-secure telephone and computer network communication lines remained open and in good working order, which supported the U.S. military objective of training the 3rd Iraqi Air Force and protecting the vital region against insurgents' continued efforts to destabilize the new Iraqi government. For the flight's outstanding efforts, it was selected as the best of four squadrons and awarded the Lt. Gen. Harold W. Grant Communications and Information award.

"We accomplished more than I ever expected," said Maj. Terrence Adams, 506th ECS commander. "Receiving the General Grant award was not an easy task and probably would have been unattainable if not for the work of Major Rogers. He made my A-team an A-plus team."

Working on the only base in Iraq where base communications are provided by the Air Force proved a challenge, said the major. He found that maintaining a solid working relationship between his Airmen in the information systems flight and the 25th Infantry Division soldiers from Hawaii, whom they supported, was just as important to successful mission accomplishment as keeping telephone and computer network systems working well.

"Typically, Air Force and Army communications units don't get along because we have different standards," the major said. "Our rapport with the Army was spectacular because we first worked at establishing a good relationship with its leaders."

With four Soldiers to every Airman, it would have been easy for the 506th Information Systems Flight to become overwhelmed in its task of establishing new systems, as well as maintaining and repairing all the telephone and computer network systems on base. To keep the working relationship positive, the major said he encouraged his flight to: Allow the Army to "rack and stack" their communications work orders; maintain two-way communication between the information systems flight and 25th ID leaders through efficient weekly meetings; and improve the 506th ISF Help Desk processes.

Allowing base leadership to prioritize Army communications requirements "no matter how many there were," gave them the service they needed on time to meet mission objectives, said the major. Weekly meetings between 506th ECS and 25th ID leaders ensured the flight prevented miscommunication.

In appreciation for their work, the Army's 25th ID leaders awarded a dozen Airmen special recognition coins and three Airmen received Army Achievement Medals.

"I had great NCOICs (non-commissioned officers in charge) to whom I gave the responsibility to run their shops," Major Rogers said. "It was a lot of pressure for them and very demanding, but the pay back was well worth it. We all came back very pleased with the work we did."