MAFB security forces hear loud and clear

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 5th Security Forces Squadron and 91st Security Forces Group benefited from a substantial land mobile radio purchase by Air Combat Command for state-of-the-art vehicle and handheld radios here recently.

"The funding was used to dramatically improve communications capabilities on base and around the [91st Missile Wing's] missile field," said Maj. Christian Basballe, 5th Communications Squadron commander.

The project has two phases. The first phase will upgrade the radios and begin Minot AFB's next generation of radio repeaters. Phase two, which is not yet funded, will establish an infrastructure to install eight additional radio repeaters and link them together so the base and missile field will be able to communicate more securely.

ACC and Air Force Space Command are teaming up in dual-MAJCOM partnership, which is a first for the Air Force, to create the system Team Minot will use, the major said.

With the recent purchase by ACC, the first phase of the project is now complete.

"It's a relief to have this phase of the upgrade out of the way so our security forces units can focus on their mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Gary Kruger, 5th CS Operations Flight superintendent. "With this phase behind us, 5th CS can focus on upcoming projects and other phases of the Minot AFB LMR upgrade."

Nearly $2 million has been spent for phase one of the upgrade. When complete, the project is expected to cost almost $8 million. The life expectancy of the upgrade is projected to be 10 years.

Security forces personnel have been very pleased with the LMR upgrade.

"It's a great improvement and we are really happy with it," said Senior Airman Heather Simpson, 5th SFS armorer. "The mission has been greatly improved by the upgrade. It allows every member of a security forces unit to have a radio of their own, where before the upgrade, communication between posts was limited."

The upgrade not only improves the mission readiness of the 5th SFS, but also the security forces units in the 91st SFG.

"The fact that we have more reliable radios and frequency to effectively communicate between our units is important for our mission here," said Staff Sgt. Jerry Riddle, 91st Security Support Squadron armory assistant noncommissioned officer-in-charge.

The upgrade allows Airmen to communicate securely throughout the 8,500 square miles of the 91st Missile Wing's missile complex.

"This will be a significant improvement in critical communications our Airmen use every day to complete their mission," said Major Basballe.