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Tinker Airman ensures help is a call away in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Byrd
  • Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - In eastern Afghanistan's Laghman Province the challenge of providing adequate communication is overcome daily by the hard work of the Airmen assigned to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team.

U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Wayne D. Dunn, Staff Sergeant Douglas P. Nelson from Tinker's 552nd Air Control Network Squadron and Senior Airman Cruz E. Dozal are assigned to the PRT, working diligently every day to make reliable communications a reality.

At any given time explosive ordinance disposal, air support, medical evacuations and quick reaction forces are some of the critical assets the PRT members need to communicate with during missions.

To eliminate failure of communications with these assets, pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections are completed by Sergeqant Nelson, on every PRT vehicle before each mission.

"I want only the best communication for our soldiers and airmen," said Nelson. "If we do our job in the communications shop, we are an invisible yet fundamental piece of the puzzle."

Not only do these men do pre and post-combat maintenance for missions, occasionally they get called out on missions. During these missions, they perform a dual role--dismounted security and maintaining radio communication.

Tasks that the shop is responsible for include maintaining computer servers, troubleshooting radio equipment and training the users. These tasks seem simple, but all PRT operations would come to a standstill if these tasks are not completed effectively.

"Effective communication between our warriors is vital to mission success," said Sergeant Dunn, who is from Anaconda, Mont. "The troops have to be able to talk."

While supporting PRT members who work on convoys during missions is a job the communications shop is tasked with, top-notch communication is also needed for support staff working on the base. Dozal, from Oklahoma City, but assigned to the 23rd CS at Moody AFB, Ga., is responsible for maintaining multiple Forward Operating Base computer servers that are required to plan all of the missions. This is a challenging task that requires an in depth knowledge and a specific skill set.

"I like doing my part to see that effective communication equipment is helping the team members on the FOB, and those on missions," said Airman Dozal.
The long hours and tireless efforts of these Airmen are appreciated by all the PRT members.

"Communications is one of the most critical pieces of all that we do here. In a changing world, these men do not have an easy task," said Maj. Carlos I. Martinez, the Operations Officer for the PRT. "They are an integral part of a successful mission."