Joint Base San Antonio-Medina Annex, Texas -- The 55th Combat Communications Squadron has deployed twelve Citizen Airmen to the Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility since January.
Prior to their departure from one of the locations, some of the members were given the opportunity to commemorate their tenure by embellishing the squadron heraldry on one of the base’s security barriers.
According to Maj. Ricky Hornsby, one of the deployed members and the 55th CBCS’s acting commander, this was an important project for the entire team because it marked the first time that 55th members were deployed to multiple locations simultaneously throughout the AFCENT AOR serving tours of 185 days or more outside of their core mission of Combat Communications.
“Our members held positions in the Combined Air Operations Center, established itself as the ‘go to’ lead for AFCENT Theater Deployable Radio, forward deployed, served on the AFCENT Commander Executive Staff, established a Cyber Defense process within the CAOC to protect our communications systems and led the deployed bases’ most critical infrastructure communications cutover which directly supports Operation Inherent Resolve's fight against ISIL,” Hornsby said.
“The best part is knowing that my contributions and efforts lend to winning the Air War,” said Master Sgt. Nichols Herman, another of the deployed members who is assigned to the 55th CBCS’s Crypto Maintenance Team.
Herman went on to say that since Reservists deploy less frequently than their active duty (component) counterparts, deployments can be challenging; however, it also brings a unique flavor.
“While painting the barrier, I reflected on the various places the 55th has sent Airmen… all of these missions were filled by volunteers who want to contribute,” he said. “During this rotation, there were just as many Guard and Reserve members as there were active duty members, however, you could not distinguish one from the other. As challenging as it may seem, Reservists and Guardsmen bring unique experience to add to the fight and integrate seamlessly with active duty.”
The deployed Citizen Airmen were a mix of Civil Service employees, Air Force Reserve Technicians, Department of Defense Contractors, a Lowes' information technology professional, and an employee of the Sikorsky Aerospace Corporation Logistic Operations Management team.
Hornsby agreed with Herman’s assessment.
“Two things stick out about what [I] learned [in doing this project], not only about our rich, successful history, but our present and future,” Hornsby said. “The first thing is, the 55th CBCS is made up of professionals who do a ‘kick-ass’ job deploying to a bare base, enduring base or in support of joint/coalition exercises globally! Next, our team of Air Force Reserve Technicians are ‘world class’ in their continual support of the day-to-day in-garrison and deployed missions which allows our squadron to be the best!”
The team made their mark in terms of their performance, but as only one barrier was allotted for the squadron, the wanted to leave a lasting mark representing their entire unit, so they opted to add the patch for the 5th Combat Communications Group to identify Robins Air Force Base, Ga., in addition to the 55th CBCS patch.
While both Cyber Gladiators said being away from their families and friends was tough, they both agreed that the best part of the project was the comradery fostered between the deployed 55th CBCS members, to include those who were forward deployed into the AOR, and the different experiences they collectively and individually had made this a deployment they won’t soon forget.
And the barrier will serve as a reminder to all that the 55th CBCS proudly served as a fully committed total force mission partner.