1st CBCS celebrates 60th anniversary

The 1st Combat Communications Squadron celebrated its 60th anniversary with multiple events at the 1st CBCS compound March 1 on Ramstein.

They kicked the day off with a flight competition of the squadron’s five flights competing to determine which flight was the most “combat ready” while showcasing some healthy competition.

 The first event consisted of a team of two Airmen who flipped a truck tire for a total of 120 yards followed by a six-man team that pulled a 5-ton truck 60 yards. The flight competition ended with a combat relay, including all five flights within the 1st CBCS. Members began with 60 pushups, sit-ups and squats, a 600-foot ammo-can carry, 1,200-foot military oriented protective posture four run, 60-yard low crawl with a rifle, followed by a 1,200-foot Airman-litter carry and ended with a single-lap detail run.

“It’s great to be in this squadron and it’s even better that I get to participate in something this big,” said Airman 1st Class Jack Shultz, 1st CBCS tactical network technician.

The relay ended with the squadron coming together and naming the transmissions systems flight as the winners.

“I was proud watching the flight compete. It was a tough fight and my guys came through in the clutch. They never crack under pressure,” said Capt. Anthony Butler, transmission systems flight commander. “Their ability to come together and handle adversity is why I’m honored to serve with each and every one of them.”

“I love the fact that we can take some time to get together and have some fun. Our team is very close and (they) are great at what they do,” said Lt. Col. Keith Mueller, 1st CBCS commander. “We have some amazing people in the squadron that think about the squadron before they think about themselves.”

The 1st CBCS was originally activated as the 1859th Airway and Air Communications Services Mobile Communications Squadron on Sept. 1, 1951, at Johnson Air Base, Japan. It was originally intended to be a temporary unit to be deactivated after the Korean War.

The squadron received multiple awards and decorations, including the Presidential Unit Citation and the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award. They were involved in various operations such as the Korean War, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The 1st CBCS stands by its mission statement to deploy, operate and defend tactical communications and airfield systems.