14 CS has a network of services

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaleb Snay
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A pilot flies a T-38 while personnel sorts through records and security forces checks ID's at the gate; what do they all have in common? The 14th Communications Squadron supports them all through various services.

To support the Defense of the United States by developing and maintaining the best communications and information systems and personnel; that is the mission of the 14 CS.

"The squadron provides essential communications and information systems, air traffic control and landing systems, visual information, and information management to support the flying training mission," said Maj. Austin Hood, 14 CS Commander.

The squadron has several flights that help keep the base running on a daily basis including the Knowledge Operations Flight, Operations Flight, Plans and Implementation Flight. Each flight has specific duties that keep the base's communications active.

"We are responsible for supporting the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems," Clark Houston, 14 CS Operations Flight Chief. "If something can stop the base from flying, we will give it precedence over other responsibilities and get it fixed."

The squadron is responsible for providing high-quality voice and data switching, information management, administrative communications and equipment control to the BLAZE community.

"You can find data everywhere," said Hood. "When brought together correctly, data becomes information which can be used as a tool. With Knowledge operations we help people understand their data and how to use it properly, whether it's a sharepoint site or just a text document."

The 14th Communications Squadron Plans and Implementation Flight is responsible for providing long and short range C4 system planning for Columbus Air Force Base, ensuring they meet Air Force architecture and integration requirements.

The 14 CS also has a customer service in which they provide direct assistance to personnel on base.

"Let's say a student pilot just got here for training," said Hood. "If they start having problems, they will have an Information Assurance officer who has been trained to take care of these issues available to them. If the problem is not solved there, they can call our Communications Focal Point at 434-2666 and put in a ticket. From there we will triage the issues and have it sent to the proper agency to be fixed, whether it's local or it has to be sent externally."

Sometimes equipment or issues must be dealt with externally by a group that specializes in correcting the problems.

"Over the years our squadron has transformed from a large group to a small coordinated unit who work with external agencies," said Houston. "This has caused us to become even more cyber focused and given us different responsibilities. We are focused on our customers and getting what they need done despite the constraints that we face on a daily basis."

Rest assured, Team BLAZE, the 14 CS is taking care of the base with its network of services.

"The squadron is awesome, hands down," said Hood. "I inherited this squadron recently and it was a well running machine because of the professionals we have in the squadron, which is a perfect blend of military and civilian personnel. We are an organization postured and ready to take on any challenges that may come our way."