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3rd Herd units work to stay ready for deployments, inspections

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Three 3rd Combat Communications Group squadrons are jointly preparing for November's Operational Readiness Inspection, a five-day-long audit.

Nearly 90 members from the 31st and 32nd Combat Communications Squadrons are actively participating in exercises at Glenwood Training Annex just north of Tinker Air Force Base on Southeast 29th Street. The exercises test their ability to set up communications equipment and ensure it works correctly. They also test their abilities to extend network and connection services to other sites, which is similar to how they train for deployments. Additionally, the 34th Combat Communications Squadron is examining internal actions - the groundwork that needs to be done so a unit can deploy.

Officials said they'll be ready for the inspection.

"We're ready to rock," said Capt. Nicholas Kuc, 31st CCS Network Systems Flight commander.

"We'll knock it right out of the ballpark. We'll do what the Herd does best." Capt. Stacie Hartert, 32nd CCS Support Flight commander, agreed.

"Both squadrons have a great team of players, a great support structure and great communication," she said.

The 31st and 32nd CCS units began working together in February. Initially, the captains said the exercises were challenging, but they've worked through the strife. And, as the inspection date nears and the exercises become inevitably more challenging, the units continue to prove they are better equipped to handle the issues.

"We're getting faster. We do things more efficiently and everybody gets into a good battle rhythm," Captain Hartert said. "We've done a crawl, walk and run, and now we're getting ready to sprint.

"These exercises build routine and proficiency," Captain Hartert said. "It really gives us the opportunity to take the equipment out of their boxes a lot, complete a lot of training, and practice with systems fully integrated like they are in a real-world deployment, and become fully integrated with all of the pieces and services we provide."

Captain Kuc said the major differences between ORI preparation and real-world deployments, which are performed throughout the year, are relatively minor, since there is no such thing as a "typical" deployment. ORI exercises are done without the use of weapons, tents are already set up.

A support team is helping to ensure the exercise runs smoothly, which is different from real-world training. Members from the 3rd Combat Communications Support Squadron help plan and execute the training scenarios. Additionally, approximately 15 Airmen from each 3rd Herd squadron make up the "host nation," which takes out the trash, brings supplies to the site, refuels the generators and makes sure the water buffaloes remain full.

Depending on the mission, the captains said the 3rd Herd units may deploy for two weeks up to six months. The mission also determines how many Airmen will deploy. The last time the 3rd Herd participated in an ORI was 2004.