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JCSE provides communications during humanitarian assistance mission

U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Enabling Capabilities Command's Joint Communications Support Element has sent eight of its communications experts to U.S. Southern Command's Continuing Promise 2010.

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By Julianne Sympson
Joint Enabling Capabilities Command

(SUFFOLK, Va. - July 20, 2010) -- U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) communicators are supporting a U.S. Southern Command effort to bring humanitarian assistance to seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE) put eight of its communications experts aboard the USS Iwo Jima for Continuing Promise 2010 (CP10), an annual operation that sends medical and engineering support teams to those regions to build relationships and provide health services and engineering support to their populace. The USJFCOM personnel will ensure the teams can communicate and coordinate between medical facilities ashore and the ship.

"JCSE is frequently asked to support unique missions that USJFCOM is requested for as we provide command and control support for all combatant commands," said Air Force Capt. Ryan Hampton director of deployable systems for the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron (JCSS) and member of the JCSE team.

JCSE supplied three initial entry packages to provide voice, data and teleconferencing capabilities and maintain connectivity for CP10 staff in areas with limited communication resources. JCSE provides communication packages tailored to the specific needs of joint force missions and can solve communications and interoperability problems between U.S. and coalition military services and host nation partners during missions like CP10.

"We are there to support the CP10 civil authorities in completing their mission," said Air Force Master Sgt. Donnie Johns, a satellite technician with the 224th JCSS on the team. "Goodwill is what this mission is all about and it is an opportunity to help the local people."

JCSE has supported Continuing Promise operations in the past, but this is the first time the 224th JCSS, based in Brunswick, Ga., has been involved. An Air National Guard unit, the 224th is typically called upon to support national relief situations.

"JCSE's 224th JCSS has deployed to support emergency disaster relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina, but this deployment will be a value-added challenge as a National Guardsman to react on the international front as we support this humanitarian assistance mission," said Air Force Maj. Charles West, 224th JCSS detachment commander. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the beauty and culture of Latin America and actively participate in this humanitarian assistance effort."

The 224th JCSS includes Air Force military members who bring skillsets from their civilian jobs which are desirable during deployments.

"As an Air National Guardsman, our civilian life brings maturity and experience that other countries are very receptive to when working with host nation partners," said Hampton, who works as an educator in civilian life.

JCSE team members will have the chance to engage with local residents when they receive health services from the CP10 team.

"I am looking forward to this unique experience and the opportunity to help the local people and to see a different part of the world," Johns said. "The cultural exchange of this region will be new for me."

JCSE will support CP10 throughout the operation's four-month duration.