Air Force proves it is ready, willing and deployable

By Lieutenant Jennifer Faubert

Members of 17 Wing Telecommunication and Information Services Squadron (WTISS) and attached augmentees on OP ATHENA ROTO II, stand in-front of the CAMP MIRAGE communications centre Aug 04. 17 WTISS led the first wing formed air-force Communication and Information Services (CIS) flight to a deployed operation. Although augmented by other wings and having an attached MT det from the CFJSR, the flight leadership and majority of the staff came from 17 Wing. Common training and bringing together personnel prior to deployment enhanced the flights interoperability once on ground in theatre.

1 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION – World events can change on a dime. And that means the Canadian Forces (CF) must be ready to go wherever and whenever their services are needed. For the Air Force, that means creating teams of expeditionary forces that can deploy quickly, efficiently and with equipment that can withstand the pressures of deployed operations.

In order to make that happen, the Air Force has been cultivating a new way of doing business called the Air Force Support Capability (AFSC). The AFSC is helping to create a more responsive, expeditionary and capable Air Force, one that can provide close support to CF operations.

This means having trained personnel and serviceable equipment ready to roll when duty calls. A main element of that high state of readiness is having the right mix of deployable support equipment, including communications equipment. The AFSC, with the help of 1 Cdn Air Div, is putting together three Communication and Information Services (CIS) suites that will be located at the Mission Support Units located at 4 Wing Cold Lake, 8 Wing Trenton and 14 Wing Greenwood. Each suite will contain $2.2 million in communications equipment.

“Having the right type and amount of equipment is paramount to mission success in any operation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Russ Mann, AFSC Project Director.
“ The AFSC will help our teams deploy with confidence by ensuring personnel have access to and are trained on the kit they will use in theatre.”

“We need the ability to operate with our colleagues from the other environments (such as the Army and Navy) and we are creating a system to allow us to do that,” explained Captain Wayne Webb, CIS Team member. ”It will allow us to talk to the pilots, talk to the sailors and talk to the soldiers.”

The AFSC is working with 1 Cdn Air Div Operations to identify deployable “fly-away” kits consisting of tools, test equipment and consumables at 3, 4, 8, 14, 17 and 19 Wings. Three full new suites will be located at 4, 8 and 14 Wing and be available for both deployments and training. The suites will include radios (secure and non-tactical), computers (classified and unclassified), microwaves, INMARSATs, and telephone systems -- all the equipment essential for expeditionary operations.

The CIS world has embraced the AFSC concept wholeheartedly. Right now 8 Wing is deploying the most complete CIS flight to date, which represents a move towards the Mission Support Units (MSU) concept.

“CIS is deploying as a trained, standing capability to go as a unit,” said Capt Webb. “By going as a unit, we know who goes, what the deployment is getting with regards to equipment and personnel skills set.” This is paramount for unit cohesion, morale at home and abroad, all of which fosters confidence.

Tasking for Operation ATHENA, for example, has moved from ad hoc, individual taskings to a CIS “flight” or team tasking. Flights, or teams, from 3, 17, and 8 Wings will be shortly followed by 19 and 14 Wings.

It takes a lot of careful administration and planning prior to the deployment of a CIS flight, or team. It is necessary to ensure that the personnel meet trade qualifications, pre-scheduling training ensure personnel train and work together on the equipment they will use in theatre.

“The CIS community is really supportive of AFSC because they have practiced it and know it works,” said Capt Webb. “The lessons learned in Camp Mirage indicated this is the way of the future.”

In his lessons learned, report Captain Charles Kerber, 17 Wing CIS Commanding Officer for Op ATHENA said, “A large number of recommendations would be addressed by having personnel work and train together in advance of a deployment. AFSC, to be truly effective, will need to back-up the personnel plan with an effective equipment policy for supporting development of personnel skills and should contribute to doctrinal concepts for support to joint operations.”

Lt Faubert is the Air Force Support Capability Public Affairs Officer.