Airman 1st Class Trevor Hermosillo, a 39th Communications Squadron cable and antenna technician, unearths rocks while preparing to install underground communication lines Nov. 18, 2015, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Laying communication cable is the first of many steps to establishing communications infrastructure. The squadron works to establish and maintain new and old infrastructure to ensure Incirlik and Operation Inherent Resolve missions are accomplished. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)

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Staff Sgt. Anthony Posey, a 39th Communications Squadron cable and antenna supervisor, carries conduit to a dig site Nov. 18, 2015, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The infrastructure support the 39th CS provides directly effects the air surety and Operation Inherent Resolve missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)

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Airmen from the 39th Communications Squadron install underground communications lines, the framework for communication infrastructure Nov. 18, 2015, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The underground communication cable is the first of many steps to establishing a communications infrastructure. The squadron works to establish and maintain new and old infrastructure to ensure Incirlik and Operation Inherent Resolve missions are accomplished. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)

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Comm Airmen keep OIR mission connected

Published Dec. 10, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFNS) -- The demand for communication capabilities is on the rise at Incirlik Air Base with the addition of aircraft and service members in support of Operation Inherent Resolve missions.

The 39th Communications Squadron is hard at work meeting those demands, keeping the lines of communication open and demonstrating dedication to the 39th Air Base Wing and OIR. Whether those lines of communication are non-secure or secure internet networks, telecommunications or mobile radios, it's the communications squadron Airmen who ensure everyone on Incirlik stays connected despite the increase in operations.

"Currently the operations tempo is extremely high here," said Chief Master Sgt. Dax Marvel, the 39th CS superintendent. "At most other installations, there isn't the ops tempo like we have here. For most bases, it is mostly steady state ... just maintaining what is already established. Here, we are maintaining our established wing buildings as well as building and installing communication support in buildings that have not been used for more than five years."

The infrastructure installed into the older facilities is an essential working conduit, which critical communication information travels, and powers the wing’s missions.

"Every sector of the CS works to ensure communication needs are met to support everyone on base and their missions," said Airman 1st Class Trevor Hermosillo, a 39th CS cable and antenna technician. "Large or small, every mission requires communications aspects to succeed. You look at everybody going about their business and you see the buildings you helped put 'comm' into. Although they don't know, it gives us a sense of pride we are contributing to the mission."