52nd CBCS helps Iraqi communications, morale Published Oct. 11, 2006 By Amanda Creel 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 52nd Combat Communications Squadron Airmen's mission is training at Robins, but when they deploy, their communications support is vital to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Whether it's supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom by raising the morale of fellow troops or learning to appreciate the efforts of Iraqi troops and civilians as they learn to live as an independent nation, Airmen from the 52nd CBCS are answering the call of duty. Staff Sgt. Robert Keen, a ground radio maintenance craftsman, considers himself lucky because he had the opportunity to work side by side with the Iraqi Reconnaissance Squadron 70. "I expected to be looking over my shoulder, but after a few days you realize they are good guys," Sergeant Keen said. "When you realize they are working for much less money, under much worse circumstances, you learn to respect them a lot." Sergeant Keen was a member of a seven-man team of Airmen called the Coalition Air Force Transition Team who were embedded with Squadron 70 as an advisory team. Sergeant Keen was embedded with the unit to help them establish communications systems such as handheld radios, avionics equipment, computer networks and video surveillance systems. One of the challenges for Sergeant Keen was being able to teach his Iraqi coworkers how to manage the communication system while communicating through an interpreter. "The biggest problem was the language barrier. Most of the pilots spoke English, but the maintenance guys didn't and they were the ones that needed to learn," Sergeant Keen said. Keen said he enjoyed seeing the Iraqis experience many things Americans take for granted, such as surfing the Internet, because of the communications system he helped the squadron to establish. While the sergeant was helping enable the Iraqi Air Force to maintain their own communication systems, other members of the 52nd CBCS were helping keep the warfighter's spirits up. Airmen 1st Class Anthony Pettz, computer systems operator said one of his favorite parts of being at Sather Air Base in Iraq was giving his fellow troops a morale boost. "We were the hook up," he said. Airman Pettz said he helped maintain the morale drive on his base's Web site, where Airmen could view movies, listen to music and watch TV shows. "We had (numerous) movies, TV shows, such as the Sopranos, Firefly and Deadwood, and we had music, all kinds of music," Airman Pettz said. But the morale drive wasn't the only morale booster that Airman Pettz was involved in. He also helped establish a gaming center for Airmen, where they could test their skills on games, such as Battlefield II and Warcraft. "It was a really good time. There were always a lot of people in there," Airman Pettz said. He said being able to help other Airmen escape through a movie or a video game was very satisfying. When Airman Pettz wasn't working to boost base morale, he was functioning as a liaison between communication customers and maintainers. One night while Airman Pettz was working the night shift, he got to test his problem solving skills. One of the Airmen deployed with him needed to have a teleconference set up within a few hours, so he could testify in a court proceeding. He went to work immediately calling anyone and everyone he could think of in order to locate the needed equipment. "I did a lot of middle man work and after about a half-hour, I had one," Airman Pettz said. "The only one in our area and I found it." Another 52nd CBCS Airman, 1st Lt. James Emge, a communications engineer, also aided with the morale boosting projects at Sather AB. One of the projects he is proud of is installing and upgrading an in-ground communication system on the base. "I helped a lot with the organization and I actually got to go out and work with the engineers," Lieutenant Emge said. Along with helping enhance the communication system at the airbase, Lieutenant Emge said he got to help implement a radio over Internet protocol communication system, which allowed real-time communication with convoys. "If someone came under fire we knew exactly where they were and what they needed, so that support could be dispatched," Lieutenant Emge said.