Communication Specialists

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Kinslow, communications specialist from Columbia, S.C., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, checks the frequency of the Harris radio while U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Swearingen, communications specialist from Orange, Texas, assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, grabs a trim crew access unit for replacement in a tactical vehicle during scheduled maintenance July 10, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. Ensuring that all members inside the vehicle can communicate with each other allows the provincial reconstruction team to operate as a team. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Kinslow, communications specialist from Columbia, S.C., assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni, Task Force White Eagle, sets up the COM21 antenna July 24, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan. Setting up this antenna allows them to get a new FM station. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady, Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs)

By U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. J. Lavoie

Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs

GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan -   “Spartan main, this is Spartan 2-7.  Radio check over.”

“Spartan 2-7, this is Spartan Main. Roger, out.”

A routine comms check carried out before every mission, at the same time someone in the Provincial Reconstruction Team sends an e-mail, while someone else answers the phone.  Most of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen will go back to their living quarters after work and check their Facebook or twitter accounts to keep up with family.

All of this is possible because of the three people who work in PRT Ghazni’s communications section.

“We are the first line of repair for all of the computers, printers and network equipment in the PRT,” said U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Jim Emerick, from Cary, N.C. assigned to the Ghazni PRT, Task Force White Eagle. “We’re the hands on trouble shooters, by the time it gets to ITT, we've found the problem, but often don’t have the level of access to fix it.”

Having PRT communications specialists, also allows PRT personnel to get their computer problems address more quickly, often on the spot.

“It stream lines the process of getting your computer fixed.  If everything went to ITT they would be overwhelmed,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Swearingen from Orange, Texas, electronics technician assigned to the Ghazni PRT, Task Force White Eagle.

In addition to computers, they are responsible for all communication equipment in the tactical vehicles, including radios and the blue force trackers.  For Swearingen, who works on radars when not assigned to the PRT, this is a learning experience.

“On the most basic level it’s the same, electronics are electronics,” he said.  “I learn a lot. Anytime I come across something in the truck, I learn something.  A lot of this stuff is learning as you go.”

Swearingen isn’t the only communication specialist who is developing additional skills during this deployment.

“We’re ETs -- everything techs,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ken Kinslow from Beaufort, S.C. communications specalist assigned to the Ghazni PRT, Task Force White Eagle. “We get tasked on a daily basis with something new and many times we aren’t trained on it, so we learn on the fly. It’s fun, but it’s difficult sometimes.

Especially when so few people are in charged with so many important responsibilities.

“If our radios go down, we can’t go on mission because we can’t communicate,” said Kinslow. “At the base of every mission, they can plan and plan, but if we can’t do our jobs, it won’t roll.”