HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system section, receive a briefing on Minot Air Force Base, N.D., July 31, 2014. Their primary mission is to maintain the HICS network, comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers spanning across 8,500 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system section, drive to a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 21, 2014. Their primary mission is to maintain the HICS network, comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers spanning across 8,500 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system section, unload their gear outside of a missile alert facility, July 31, 2014. The HICS network interconnects launch control centers to launch facilities to provide primary circuit routing for missile command lines and communication circuits. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airman 1st Class Eric Mata, 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system technician, loosens the bolts on a splice case outside of a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 31, 2014. Their primary mission is to maintain the HICS network, comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers spanning across 8,500 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airman 1st Class Eric Mata, 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system technician, loosens the bolts on a splice case outside of a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 31, 2014. Their primary mission is to maintain the HICS network, comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers, spanning across 8,500 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system section, loosen the bolts on a splice case outside of a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 31, 2014. Their primary mission is to maintain the HICS network, comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers spanning across 8,500 square miles of land. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Senior Airman Kimo Kalilikane, 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system team chief, count the cable bundles outside of a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 31, 2014. The HICS network interconnects launch control centers to launch facilities to provide primary circuit routing for missile command lines and communication circuits. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Airmen from the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron hardened intersite cable system section, loosen the bolts on a splice case outside of a missile alert facility in North Dakota, July 31, 2014. The HICS network interconnects launch control centers to launch facilities to provide primary circuit routing for missile command lines and communication circuits. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

HICS: Backbone of missile field communications

Published Aug. 4, 2014
By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Their job is important because the Hardened Intersite Cable System is the primary communication system used among the three missile flight areas, stated Senior Airman Kimo Kalilikane, 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron HICS team chief.

The HICS network interconnects launch control centers to launch facilities to provide primary circuit routing for missile command lines and communication circuits.

"Our primary mission is to maintain the HICS network which is comprised of 1,535 linear miles of cable and 47 cable air dryers that spans across 8,500 square miles of North Dakota land," Kalilikane said.

With such a vast amount of land to cover, the Airmen who maintain the HICS use a diverse set of skills to keep the system up and running.

"An average work day for a HICS troop usually consists of coming into work, getting our equipment ready for whatever maintenance we have set up for the day, a brief on factors we should watch out for, and finally working on one to two sites where we either perform troubleshoots or periodic maintenance inspection on our HICS system," Kalilikane said.

At the HICS maintenance work center, personnel are constantly monitoring alerts to the pressure monitor receiver-transmitter equipment installed throughout the missile alert facilities. This equipment notifies HICS personnel of any drop in cable pressure, which indicates damage.

"There are several different tasks we do here," said Senior Airman Samuel Bell, 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron HICS technician. "We could be at a launch facility working on the cable air dryer to ensure the cable stays pressurized, or out in a farmer's field digging up the cables to do repairs or check for faults."

In the event a missile cable is damaged, HICS personnel will evaluate, assess, and execute repairing procedures.

"HICS Airmen provide vital support in maintaining the 91st Missile Wing's missile alert facility and launch facility communication assets," said Master Sgt. Jonathan Tillery, 91st MMXS NCOIC of HICS . "They are crucial for the continuation of the mission, ensuring these cables are properly maintained is a part of ensuring Minot AFB's 100 percent combat readiness capabilities at all times."