Helping the 86th AEG deploy African peacekeepers, eight members of Ramstein’s 1st Combat Communications team provided critical tactical communications—necessary for such short-notice missions and bare base operations. The comm team comprised a communications officer, tech controller, and data, power production, radio, satellite, and telephone technicians, had all systems running within 24 hours. “At base comm, you’d only hold one piece of a system,” said data technician SSgt. Rich Bundy, adding, “Here, you’re the one guy to hold the whole package.”
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
