Building a Technology Center for Iraqi Air Force Communica9ons Training Victor B. Adame, William A. Davies, Dan M. Davis, Jeffery P. Smith, and John J. Tran
Meet the Authors Maj John J. Tran, CA ANG • – Former ECS Commander, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq – Current Squadron Engineer, 261 CBCS, Van Nuys, CA Lt Col Jeffery P. Smith, USAF • – Current EOSS Commander Kirkuk, Iraq Lt Col Victor B. Adame, CA ANG • – Former ECS Commander, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq – Current Squadron Commander, 261 CBCS, Van Nuys, CA • Lt Col William A. Davies, ANG – Former ECS Commander, Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq – Current Chief Mission Systems, A6 Directorate, NGB, Andrews Joint Base, MD CDR Dan M. Davis, USNR (Ret) • – Former Marine Corps Crypto‐Linguist – Conducted liaison with ARVN forces in 1969‐1970
Agenda IntroducZon & Background • MoZvaZon • Process and Approach • Challenges • Success Stories • Lessons Learned • Conclusion and Future Work •
Kirkuk Regional Air Base
Kirkuk Region Air Base Former Iraqi Air Base (Al Hurriya) Home to the 7500 CoaliZon Forces • • – USAF: 506 AEG (now 321 AEAG) Army refers to as COS Warrior • – USA: 1‐1 AD 9 square kilometers (2,224 acres) • – Other OGAs 14.5 kilometer security perimeter • 2 runways offset by 12 degrees • • 13/31 and 14/32 More than 2,900 faciliZes • Kirkuk is the center of Northern Iraqi • Oil Industry 6 gates: 3 open for traffic • 10 rocket adacks per month •
506 Air Expedi9onary Group 506 AEG’s Mission: • Secure the base…Safe flight opera3ons… Enable our Iraqi partners… 506 AEG Makeup • – LogisZcs – Medical – Communica5ons – Airfield Opera5ons – Services – Security Forces – Engineering
Expedi9onary Communica9ons Responsible for strategic and tacZcal communicaZons • – DSN • 1.6K lines – NIPRNET/SIPRNET • 2000 Users • 300 SVOIP Users – Ground Radio • Giant Voice • Land Mobile Radios • TAC Radios • Fly‐away Kit • RIPRNET • PA • ATCALS • ASR • TACAN • Radio 506 ECS embraces addi9onal challenges beyond communica9ons mission • – Includes building a technology transfer center for Iraqi Air Force (IqAF)
Mo9va9on Building a Technology Transfer/Training Center for Iraqi Air Force • – Fits into the 506 AEG Mission: “Enable our Iraqi Partners” – Fits into the overall US mission of OperaZon Iraqi Freedom (OIF) • Independent and self‐reliant Iraq Experience at Kirkuk may translate into a best‐pracZce approach that can • potenZally be beneficial to future stability and training operaZons • This talk will focus on – ObjecZve – Methodology – Experience – Lessons learned
Other Communica9ons Training Program Technical training, in general, is difficult : • – One of the most difficult technical training is communicaZon systems – Cultural & language differences • That conformity was not part of their culture – Differing views on procedural precision US Marines experience: • – Working in the area of badlefield communicaZons – Infantry troops reported uneven successes in those endeavors – Mixed classroom and field exercises – Reported success in Iraqi counterparts using more consistent formats The focus of the training reported on in this paper has a different set of • goals – Build on successful aspects of badlefield communicaZons – IdenZfy common issues between Marine and ECS experience
Challenges Constraints • – Faced with limited Zme horizons (AEF cycle) – Limited resources Training focused on product desired and results needed • – Must do “something” ClassificaZons • – SensiZve ITAR technology cannot be shared – Base security and communicaZon infrastructure must not be a part of the lesson plan – SIPR and classified systems must be off‐limit at all Zmes Cultural and Language Barriers • – Some students have limited English – SystemaZc “rice bowl” mentality – Iraqi work schedule is very light
Methodology Training program as it is designed would be • – Appropriate for any airman deployed to the AOR – Model is a “plug and play” approach Curriculum development effort close to praxis approach • – Spontaneous and naive “understanding by design” philosophy – IdenZfied goals and developed a formal training plan Simplicity is King • – No reliance any sophisZcated theory of curriculum development – Teaching environment is based on day‐to‐day operaZon Ensured each of the lessons mapped to funcZonal units • – Evenly distribute workload across each of the five work centers – Work center structure breakdown and the inclusive funcZons are universal throughout the Air Force
Approach Curriculum Development • – Focus on materials that is both theory and hands on • Classroom & Laboratory exercises – Cultural Intelligence • Define schedule around Iraqi work schedule (Holidays and VacaZons) • SensiZve to Iraqi cultural norms IdenZfy real projects • – Work side‐by‐side with Iraqis – MoZvate and indoctrinate concept of success and pride in process ownership Build teaching labs • – Teaching materials supplemented by laboratory exercises – Using commodity available items – aka extras
Laboratories Networking • – A virtual network lab using 4 CISCO routers and 4 laptops serving both as configuraZon terminals and connecZon points Cable and telephone • – A telephone interconnecZon point mockup board • Radio – A test channel on our Land Mobile Radio (LMR) network Small computers • – A computer cloning lab that employs desktop and laptop “ghosZng” technology
Success Stories
Success Story #1 ObjecZve: • – Real Project to connect fiber & cables between flight line and OperaZon Center – Learn about: • Project planning • Cable & fiber technology • Pre‐work, installaZon and terminaZon Result: • – Cohesive mission planning between US Air Force and IqAF – Empowering IqAF with sense of ownership and pride – Mission accomplished criZcal communicaZons between flight line and OperaZon Center is established
Success Story #2 ObjecZve: • – IqAF need to replicate desktop computer images – Learn about: • Ghost image preparaZon • Drivers and patches • Result: – Reduce image Zme from several hours to 30 minutes – Immediate use for their squadron – Consistency and uniformity achieved on all workstaZons
Success Story #3 ObjecZve: • – The Iraqi Civil AviaZon Authority (ICAA) n eeded to feed radar data from Kirkuk to Baghdad • Air picture of all of northern Iraq • Enable the Iraqis to control all aircram How we did it: • – Used networking experZse to advise the Iraqis • Built a virtual tunnel between Kirkuk and Baghdad – Worked side‐by‐side with the Iraqis – Correctly configured and validated the connecZons
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