5th CS ATCALS Airmen move to 5th OSS

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jeff M. Nagan
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  In an effort to streamline cyber and airfield operations, 10 Airmen from the air traffic control airfield systems and ground radar career fields transitioned from the 5th Communications Squadron to the 5th Operations Support Squadron Sept. 2.

The two career fields are responsible for maintaining and repairing air traffic control and landing systems equipment, or simply ATCALS. This includes more than $16.5 million of various radar, weather, navigation and air traffic control ground-to-radio systems for an area encompassing North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

"The move will potentially improve our mission capability and effectiveness by facilitating a new streamlined and efficient process by dealing with one chain of command as opposed to two," said Staff Sgt. Garrett Hays, ground radar systems NCO in charge. "A more streamlined communication process speeds up response times, because we will now be able to communicate with our customer directly."

Minot Air Force base is one of three bases within Air Force Global Strike Command and several throughout the Air Force making this transition.

"The OSS is excited to have these sharp Airmen as new OSS Ironmen," said Lt. Col. David Gordon, 5th OSS commander. "ATCALS performs a critical service for Minot AFB and we are happy to welcome them as part of our 5th OSS team."

Although Minot Air Force Base has the largest personnel shift of the three flying bases within AFGSC, the move will not have an adverse impact on the Airmen's missions, added Gordon. In fact, it should improve their capability.

"The 5th Communications Squadron has done a fantastic job of providing us with ATCALS support," said Gordon. "However, bringing ATCALS capabilities under the 5th Operations Support Squadron creates synergy and efficiency in how we will be able to manage airfield operations for the base. The Air Force made a smart move by combining these functions under one squadron."

The two career fields will also have their Air Force specialty codes changed with ground radar switching from 3D1X5 to 1C8X1 and airfield systems converting from 3D1X6 to 1C8X2.

"Although the Comm Squadron is losing the two career fields, Team Minot's operational flying mission is not losing the maintenance capability these outstanding Airmen bring with them," said Lt. Col. Gino Sarcomo, 5th Communications Squadron commander.

During the Air Force's Cyber Summit in the late 2012, senior leaders in cyberspace operations identified the two career fields to not be inherently "cyber," prompting the realignment to operations support.

Other factors also contributed to the realignment. Starting as early as 2005, the capability to perform maintenance remotely eliminated the need for ATCALS personnel to maintain several systems and pieces of equipment. During this time, several positions were shifted from ATCALS to OSS.

"The OSS manages the functions necessary to ensure operation of the airfield at Minot AFB," said Gordon. "ATCALS provides radio, radar, and air traffic capabilities critical to our airfield operations. They are already a central node in airfield operations and will be a natural fit in the OSS."

Although there was discussion where to realign the two career fields, the history OSS had already established with ATCALS made them the practical choice, said Gordon.

"The ATCALS shop is sad to leave behind our Comm Squadron family, but are extremely excited to begin a new process with our gaining OSS family," said Hays. "We have been working with OSS for years, and we are ready to tackle any opportunities that may arise with our transition."