Expeditionary Communications (XCOMM) Air Commandos from across Air Force Special Operations Command attended the latest iteration of the AFSOC tactical communicator course hosted by 137th Special Operations Wing at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City, March 2 - April 17.
The multi-week course brings together XCOMM special operators across active duty, guard and reserve wings to develop the skills and knowledge needed to set-up and operate communication systems in any environment. The training includes use of austere-like conditions and specialized AFSOC communications equipment to build their familiarity and proficiency as tactical communicators.
"This is our answer to eliminating that training gap," an AFSOC course instructor said. "The whole idea behind this course is to train people new to AFSOC communications."
The course is designed to build upon knowledge learned at the XCOMM technical training school and integrate AFSOC equipment and doctrine. The course focuses on three areas: satellite deployable nodes, radio systems and global broadcast systems. The underlying intent is to be able to establish and maintain secure communications anywhere in the world to support warfighters.
"The really cool thing about this job is that you get so many challenges," a 492nd SOW Airman participating in the course said. "There is no definition. You have to figure it out."
From the start of the course, the students are given a couple weeks of lecture and discussion to give a foundational familiarity to AFSOC-specific equipment and their uses. The following weeks mix in hands-on learning. From hiking through fields with radios to securing 20-foot antenna towers, students are trained to remain mission capable in less-than-ideal environments using equipment built to withstand demanding conditions.
"AFSOC really has a great relationship with the 137th from the COMM perspective," said 2nd Lt. Ronald Holey III, 137th Special Operations Communications Squadron director of operations. "We are the first guard unit to host this course and they are going to have us host it again back-to-back."
The 137th SOW has been involved with this course since its inception. AFSOC chose WRANGB as the location for the next two tactical communicator courses due to their expertise, manpower, facilities and ability to simulate austere environments. The integration of local resources and specialized training directly supports the wing's vision to amplify the Oklahoma Standard locally and globally.
"At the end of the day, it is about being able to go out and support the mission," the AFSOC course instructor said.
