3rd Herd earns rave reviews from desert TDY Published May 27, 2010 By John Stuart Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The servicemen and women of the 3rd Combat Communications Group are always ready to answer the call of duty. They're also vital in helping others to make those important calls. Such was the case in April, as nine Airmen with the 3rd Herd took a several-week TDY to southern Arizona to provide communications support for a rescue training exercise. Operation Angel Thunder went off successfully, with the 3rd Herd troupe providing communications to about 200 personnel from multiple groups. About 1,200 people participated in the exercise altogether, including a contingent remotely located in New Mexico. Organized by the mission customer 347th Rescue Wing of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., the annual exercise has one main objective: simulate what a real-life search and rescue mission would be like in the AOR. Turns out the barren deserts of southern Arizona -- only a stone's throw from the Mexico border -- are great places to train. The exercise helped the 3rd Herd show off what they do best in providing communication channels to the troops. It was a chance to earn the trust and respect of other units, an invaluable commodity for a military at war. "It was an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities to our sister organizations within the Air Force," said 2nd Lt. Jason Adams, the officer in charge of the 3rd Herd's operations in Arizona. "Hopefully in the future they'll be able to utilize us." Working two 12-hour shifts, the 3rd Herd personnel worked around the clock to offer seamless communications support. The 3rd Herd Airmen also fielded, for the first time, next generation communications hardware that represents the future of digital combat communications. They provided services such as internet, voice, tele-communications and also handled radio distribution for all security forces and fire personnel. The TDY provided a unique outlet for real-world training on new equipment, Lieutenant Adams said. The groups that were served also had good things to say about the 3rd Herd. "They liked how they were always able to access services," said 2nd Lt. Jennifer Kannegaard, the operation site engineer. "They really appreciated our quick responses to any issues they had." While this year's Angel Thunder is over, the 3rd Herd is hoping for another invite next year, bolstered by their sterling peer reviews. "We know what our capabilities are as combat communicators, so part of what we were out there to do was educate them on what we can do for them," Lieutenant Adams said.