3rd Herd unit connects comms for Secret Service

Published Feb. 11, 2011
By Nicole Turner
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Protection is a key mission for the United States Secret Service, and Tinker's 3rd Combat Communications Group now plays a major role in accomplishing it.

After 24 years the 3rd Herd reassumed the responsibility of a two-fold Secret Service mission -- to help protect all prominent political candidates and to provide protective security at major national events.

"We are a large communications unit," said Lt. Col. William Uhrig, commander of the 31st Combat Communications Squadron. "We have all of the various specialties that are needed and we have a very tactical and mobile mission, which fits well with the Secret Service."

The primary duty for Air Force members involved in the mission is to provide protective communications support to major political candidates running for top national offices, such as president and vice president as well as visiting foreign dignitaries at major events such as the United Nations General Assembly, which the team concluded in October 2010.

Tech Sgt. Vanderbill King, NCOIC, Secret Service Communications Support Flight, is currently leading the 3rd Herd in the mission. He said once the candidates are established and begin their campaign trails, 3rd Herd members dispatch ahead of specific candidates and set up a central communication site within each city the candidates visit.

Sergeant King said team members will set up command posts and install communication devices including computers, radios, fax machines, telephones and antennas. This equipment helps enable team members to communicate successfully and to be alert, which ultimately leads to full and absolute protection of the candidates.

"During campaign season when candidates are going to different locations on their trail, there is always a team of us that is just one step ahead of them," Sergeant King said. "We are setting up communications so that Secret Service can communicate amongst themselves, with the local law enforcement and any other sister agencies to make sure that candidate is secure."

There are three branches of the military that help the Secret Service with the protection mission, consisting of the Air Force, Army and Navy. Tinker is the sole Air Force base across the nation that was chosen for the mission.

"We are the only unit in the Air Force that does this," Sergeant King said. "We are basically augmenting their [Secret Service] communications division to supplement their manpower. We are robusting their team."

A secondary aspect of the mission requires 3rd Herd team members to attend major national events and provide communications and security services.

Specific agencies are supported through the Joint Directorate of Military Support. Once granted support, 3rd Herd team members are often assigned to events such as the Olympics, National Special Olympic Games and most recently, the Boy Scout National Jamboree.

The protective services mission began in 1968 after the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy; after this incident Congress mandated that the Secret Service will provide protection to presidential hopefuls. The Department of Defense, seeing a need for assistance, offered its support through the 3rd Herd at Tinker, which was the mission's home until it moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in 1986. On Nov. 8, 2010; however, the mission returned to Tinker.

"It's with pride and privilege that we take on a mission involving Presidential Support," said Col. Theresa Giorlando, 689th Combat Communication Wing Commander. "We are looking forward to this new mission as another way combat communication can show off our outstanding Airmen."

The transition of the mission from the Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC) at Scott AFB to Tinker began in July 2010. Colonel Uhrig said augmentation of the mission went very well and was successful.

"It was a great collaborative effort between the 31st and AFNIC to transition the mission with no interruption to the Secret Service," Colonel Uhrig said. "That is a testament to the professionals of both AFNIC and the Herd."

The 3rd Herd's protection mission is directly tasked under the Communications Management and Control Activity, which is part of the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, a crucial resource for the Secret Service and JDOMS.

"The Secret Service is a great organization and they treat us like we are family," Sergeant King said. "They make no differentiation."

Currently there are six personnel permanently assigned to the Herd's Secret Service mission, which means their main job is dedicated to the mission. They are TDY an average of 150-200 days each year, while still performing their Air Force duties and maintaining a high level of physical fitness.

Only 47 permanent members have ever been a part of this mission in the history of the Air Force. However, several temporary augmentees are needed during specific times of the year, particularly during campaign season.

Team member augmentees can expect to be on temporary duty for about 30-60 days and work longer hours as well. Members of the mission are currently seeking 30 Air Force augmentees nation-wide. To qualify as an augmentee, personnel must be in the communications career field (3D0 or 3D1) and be a staff sergeant or above.

Sergeant King said 3rd Herd members are held to high standards and the ones assigned to this high-profile mission must uphold those standards as well as a high level of integrity.

"I want to stress the professionalism and the highly autonomous nature of the job. It requires a lot of discipline and a high maturity level," Sergeant King said.