90th CS keeps Warren connected

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Airman 1st Class Cal Szur, 90th Communication Squadron client systems technician, describes himself as someone who provides too many details when answering questions.

As individuals with the ability to remotely access computers throughout the base and in whose care our ability to communicate effectively lies, it is important for Szur, and other Airmen and civilian employees of the 90th CS, to be detail oriented.

The lines of communication they maintain help the 90th Missile Wing to carry out its mission seamlessly and remain combat ready.

The mission of the 90th CS is to maintain the connectivity of the base, said Staff Sgt. Courtney Kievernagel, 90th CS on-base equipment custodian officer.

"If you need to be connected somehow, we're the ones who can help you," she said.

Szur explained why this connectivity is so important to the mission of the Mighty Ninety.

The 90th CS keeps F. E. Warren connected by setting up and maintaining communication equipment throughout the base. Approximately 500 work requests are received and completed by about 80 90th CS personnel each week, Kievernagel said.

"A lot of times, people are calling us with issues, and we understand it's stressful," Szur said. "The longer people go without communications, the more stressful it can be."

Szur said communications service requests are routed through Enterprise Service Desk hubs in four Air Force bases: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; and Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii.

The personnel at these hubs will attempt to complete work requests themselves, but if the solution to these problems requires hands-on or on-location service, the hubs assign a priority level to the work request and task it to the local communication squadrons -- in the case of F. E. Warren, it's the 90th CS, Szur said.

The 90th CS personnel understand that communications issues can be a hindrance to mission readiness, and they resolve issues in the order of highest priority to lowest.

Szur added that priority isn't based on rank. Some issues are minor annoyances, while others issues can affect the mission.
"In the realm of comm., we definitely take every job seriously, and we work them to the best of our ability," Kievernagel said. "Any other standard would be unacceptable."

Humans are not the only ones who need to communicate. Coordinated electronic defense systems require a high level of connectivity to ensure they function properly.

Visual Imagery and Intrusion Detection Systems is a section of the 90th CS that maintains electronic security measures.

The electronic security measures serve to keep Airmen out of harm's way while ensuring a high level of security for our nation's vital assets, said Staff Sgt. Ryan Nelson, 90th CS VIIDS non-commissioned officer in charge.

"They provide final denial for intruders trying to break into [secure areas]," Nelson said.

Wherever 90th CS personnel are working, they are behind the scenes making sure the communication equipment used by the Mighty Ninety is up and running, said Szur.

"If everything is going right, you won't even know that we're here."