3rd Herd in Peru: Capt. recalls successful deployment Published Oct. 17, 2008 By Capt. Scott Weed 32nd Communications Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- After three years in PACAF, the 3rd Herd was at the top of my list as I filled out my dream sheet. I knew I wanted to deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan and an assignment with a mobility enabling unit such as the Herd afforded the perfect opportunity. My wish came true as I participated in a mission, like so many others, that showcase the variety of mission performed by the Herd. In an austere, Andean environment, the Herd was part of a task force that built two new schools, three clinics, dug one well 300 meters into solid rock and treated 13,000 patients before returning home. I was tapped to lead the communications team that would head down for the U.S. Southern Command exercise New Horizons 2008 in Peru. The New Horizons exercise is a yearly event that rotates throughout Latin America to provide civic construction projects and medical services to the indigenous populations. This year there were 900 joint participants from across the active duty, reserves and guard. Before I started researching the country, images of rain forests and Machu Picchu ran through my head. It definitely seemed to differ from the hostile, sand-blown environment of Iraq and the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. The mission, common to all Herd deployments, whether in support of combat operations, disaster relief or humanitarian ventures, is to roll into some forsaken piece of land and provide the commander key command and control capability within a few days, using secure and non-secure tactical data, voice and radio systems. The Herd is unique as it relies on several career fields and equipment sets that allow it to operate alone, even in a hostile environment, including civil engineers, security forces and medical personnel that help achieve the mission. They say that showing up is half of the battle. The location for this bare-base operation was deep in the Andes of Peru. Far from easily accessible, our cargo arrived in Lima via C-5 airlift and was quickly loaded onto trucks that would convoy for two days and overcome elevation changes from sea-level to 14,000 feet and back down to the final camp altitude of 9,000 feet. From the main camp, five forward operating locations projected out into the more remote regions and several temporary medical sites dotted the nearby ridgelines. The country was dry, dusty and barren. A fine powder coated everything that touched the ground. It was not the idyllic jungle paradise we had imagined. The task force this year was led by the 820th REDHORSE Squadron from Nellis AFB, Nev. Army helicopters, Navy Seabees, Marine construction teams and medical readiness groups also contributed to the joint effort and all relied upon the Herd for communication. In addition to the work of our advance survey team, the 31 Herd Airmen from across 10 distinct career fields, worked hard for two days to bring up the circuits that would eventually support almost a thousand joint users. Our power and HVAC Airmen provided the electricity and cooling that is the absolute lifeblood for any comm endeavor. The SATCOM crews setup primary and alternate dishes that linked our site in the mountains of South America with the rest of the defense network. The tech controllers broke out and distributed the circuit, in turn passing it to data and voice technicians who further refined it. Our radio Airmen worked diligently to setup the radio nets that would support site security and link Army aviation with ground ops. They also installed a giant voice system throughout the camp for mass alert and the playing of reveille and retreat. The work they perform seems routine to these Airmen, if for no other reason than they're just that good at it. The in-garrison exercise schedule provided ample opportunity to prepare and execute under the worst circumstances. Even by 3rd Herd standards, they shattered the timelines we play to in our field exercises and inspections. When you're in the field supporting a "no-fail" mission, it's reassuring to know you have professionals at your side. Every one of the joint participants, including the focused Airmen of the 3rd Herd, did it with poise and humility. This exercise was a true testament to our nation's military.