Multi-national exercise tests Ramstein Airmen

***image1***The 1st Combat Communications Squadron is currently leading the comm support for and participating in a joint communications exercise.

Combined Endeavor is an annual exercise, sponsored by the U.S. European Command, that enables countries to standardize their communication equipment in the spirit of Partnership for Peace.

“It makes a huge difference if we’re compatible when we work together downrange,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Crouse, 1st CBCS deployment planner.

The squadron is providing connectivity between the main exercise site at Baumholder and a forward operating site in Constanta, Romania.

About 25 Airmen from the squadron arrived at the Romanian site May 5 to install the communications backbone and establish a network with other countries. France, Sweden, Russia and Croatia are just a few of the 43 nations participating.

Now through May 29, participants are conducting more than 1,400 interoperability tests, including satellite communications, video teleconferencing, voice over Internet protocol, and single channel radio networking.

This is the first time the squadron has taken the lead role in Combined Endeavor – the largest comm exercise, said Lt. Col. Jeffery Maxwell, 1st CBCS commander.

“Any opportunity for us to practice our skills is vital to our existence and our success,” said Capt. Karen Bailey, Combat Support Flight commander. “We need to be able to train and share information with our partners – even if it’s something as simple as a telephone switch.”