Smart
Comms
Reporter
Andrew Stackpool and photographer LAC Col Dadd take a look at
the Air Force’s masters of communications, 1CCS
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Leading
Aircraftman Phil Rhoades mans 1CCS’ deployable DRN shelter.
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Leading
Aircraftman Levi Fowler fixes an antenna on a transportable
transponder landing system.
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Leading
Aircraftman Bradley Woodward repairs a 6x6 110 Landrover
in the GSE section.
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Corporal
Adrian Porter helps Corporal Ben Wright with some administrative
matters in the orderly room.
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Flight
Lieutenant Daniel Smith displays the Governor-General’s
banner during the 1CCS Meritorious Unit Citation Parade.
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CO
1CCS Wing Commander Karon Millett briefs Sergeant Dave Peters,
Base WOD Warrant Officer John Millar, Flight Lieutenant
Richard Stewart and Warrant Officer Michael Wallace prior
to the parade.
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Leading
Aircraftman Kamil Rzeszuto collects a deployable printer
from the shelves of the 1CCS warehouse.
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CAF
Air Marshal Angus Houston has congratulated No. 1 Combat Communications
Squadron (1CCS) for its award of the Meritorious Unit Citation
(MUC) at an historic parade in front of families and friends.
1CCS was awarded the Citation with Federation Star for “sustained
outstanding service in warlike operations” on Operations Bastille
and Falconer.
The squadron is only the fourth unit to be awarded a MUC since
the current high tempo of operations began with East Timor in
1999. At the parade on February 11, the Squadron paraded its Governor
General’s banner for the first time.
The banner was awarded in April last year in recognition of 1CCS’s
25 years of continuous service to the Air Force and the community.
Describing 1CCS as a “team of teams”, AIRMSHL Houston, who visited
members of the squadron in Iraq last April, paid special tribute
to its continuity of service. “You have come a long way since
1965 when the Squadron was established as an Air Transportable
Telecommunication Unit.
And while the technology might have changed, your role as a centre
for excellence for deployable communications has not,” he said.
“You are now part of an elite group who have achieved outstanding
and sustained service in warlike operations.
You were challenged physically and mentally in a war zone. The
citation is testimony that you excelled.”
AIRMSHL Houston told the Squadron members and spectators that
1CCS had become a fine example of Air Force professionalism and
values. “I used the expression ‘punching above our weight’ during
my first visit to you,” he said.
“Outcomes achieved by our Air Force teams were disproportionate
to our numbers on the ground.”
Citing the Squadron as an example of how the various elements
came together to achieve success, he told how a 1CCS member had
explained the unit’s pivotal role: “No comms, no bombs.”
He reminded those present that, with 30 members still deployed
and work continuing in the MEAO, East Timor and the Solomon Islands,
1CCS could not rest on its laurels.
1CCS CO Wing Commander Karon Millett, who will accept the Meritorious
Unit Citation at Government House on March 5, said squadron members
had “worked hard and got the job done in an extremely harsh and
demanding environment” to earn the accolade.
“They faced many challenges from Middle East culture to working
with Coalition partners in 50 degree temperatures and a warlike
environment,” WGCDR Millett said.
She noted that the deployed communications elements were supporting
four separate sites and, believing 1CCS could be stretched no
thinner, was then tasked to support the ATC deployment at Baghdad
airport.
Some “fast creative thinking” enabled a team to deploy with no
impact on the squadron’s other non-deployed tasks.
She said it wasn’t just those who deployed that should be congratulated
but those who remained at the unit and worked long and hard to
support their mates. “Their effort was outstanding.”
1CCS AT A GLANCE
