38th CEIG civilians deploy to support the mission
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
The 38th Engineering Squadron, with the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group, maintains a cadre of deployable civilian and military engineers who respond to wartime tasks in contingency areas.
The 38th ES provides technical guidance on the development of the cyberspace infrastructure by providing solutions to meet mission-based requirements so the Air Force cyberspace infrastructure is mission ready.
With only eight civilians and seven military members, it is safe to say the deployable section is busy.
Squadron first line supervisor Scott Pippin said his unit supports the mission however they can, and they always find a way to make it happen.
"The mission has to succeed," Mr. Pippin said.
More than 10 percent of the civilian engineers in the squadron have deployed and, when deployed downrange, "these guys live in harsh conditions working day and night," he said.
The cyber engineers go through specialized training, Field Craft Hostile, formally known as Combat Airman Skills Training.
According to Mr. Pippin, the engineers deploy to support special forces and Air Force Central Command, and may work up to 16 hour shifts to provide 24 hour support. Military will deploy for six months and civilians generally go for three to four months to support enduring bases.
Cyberspace integrators provide worldwide systems engineering, technical consultation and implementation to cyberspace communications and infrastructure planning, in collaboration with Air Force, Department of Defense and other government agencies.
Special Mission Teams are tasked by the 24th Air Force to perform missions regarding network and infrastructure operability. Program managers in 38th ES oversee the Air Force Workplan ensuring the Air Force cyberspace infrastructure is mission ready.
"We provide the voice, video and data connectivity to the tactical operations centers," said Mr. Pippin. "We can provide data over any media."
In fact, when it comes to providing data in support of tactical operations, the team has a product they developed using Google Earth, the standardized C4ISR Infrastructure blueprint, which helps them look closely at the cable connections even without needing to be on location.
"We can see all communications infrastructure whether in the open or buried, inside buildings or towers, you name it," said Matt Farahani, second line supervisor.
The advantage of being able to "see" all the communications infrastructure, is that if a cable is failing somewhere, they can pinpoint the location and cause, so commanders are able to make informed decisions and develop a course of action to correct problems.
"There's nothing I've ever done in the 30 years of my Air Force career that is more enjoyable," said Mr. Pippin. "These [engineers] are very dedicated individuals and it's an honor to be associated with them."
Currently, the 38th supports the Joint Special Operations Command global mission as well as eight locations in Air Force Central Command and five locations in AFRICOM, including Djbouti and Chabelley and two bases in Niger, Niami and Agadez.
The 38th ES provides technical guidance on the development of the cyberspace infrastructure by providing solutions to meet mission-based requirements so the Air Force cyberspace infrastructure is mission ready.
With only eight civilians and seven military members, it is safe to say the deployable section is busy.
Squadron first line supervisor Scott Pippin said his unit supports the mission however they can, and they always find a way to make it happen.
"The mission has to succeed," Mr. Pippin said.
More than 10 percent of the civilian engineers in the squadron have deployed and, when deployed downrange, "these guys live in harsh conditions working day and night," he said.
The cyber engineers go through specialized training, Field Craft Hostile, formally known as Combat Airman Skills Training.
According to Mr. Pippin, the engineers deploy to support special forces and Air Force Central Command, and may work up to 16 hour shifts to provide 24 hour support. Military will deploy for six months and civilians generally go for three to four months to support enduring bases.
Cyberspace integrators provide worldwide systems engineering, technical consultation and implementation to cyberspace communications and infrastructure planning, in collaboration with Air Force, Department of Defense and other government agencies.
Special Mission Teams are tasked by the 24th Air Force to perform missions regarding network and infrastructure operability. Program managers in 38th ES oversee the Air Force Workplan ensuring the Air Force cyberspace infrastructure is mission ready.
"We provide the voice, video and data connectivity to the tactical operations centers," said Mr. Pippin. "We can provide data over any media."
In fact, when it comes to providing data in support of tactical operations, the team has a product they developed using Google Earth, the standardized C4ISR Infrastructure blueprint, which helps them look closely at the cable connections even without needing to be on location.
"We can see all communications infrastructure whether in the open or buried, inside buildings or towers, you name it," said Matt Farahani, second line supervisor.
The advantage of being able to "see" all the communications infrastructure, is that if a cable is failing somewhere, they can pinpoint the location and cause, so commanders are able to make informed decisions and develop a course of action to correct problems.
"There's nothing I've ever done in the 30 years of my Air Force career that is more enjoyable," said Mr. Pippin. "These [engineers] are very dedicated individuals and it's an honor to be associated with them."
Currently, the 38th supports the Joint Special Operations Command global mission as well as eight locations in Air Force Central Command and five locations in AFRICOM, including Djbouti and Chabelley and two bases in Niger, Niami and Agadez.
