Air control squadron returns from deployment

by Staff Sgt. Daryl Knee
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/16/2014 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 606th Air Control Squadron returned Jan. 15, 2014, following a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

More than 100 families reunited during a homecoming ceremony at one of the squadron's maintenance bays.

The squadron comprises Airmen from 19 different careers, specifically focusing on creating a self-contained support unit for air power. They act as an expeditionary communications unit and employ many types of equipment to maintain airspace superiority -- even in austere environments. The Airmen train throughout the year to arrive in a deployed environment, set up a bare base and begin synchronizing forces and warfighting functions of the pilots overhead, all with little-to-basic infrastructure in place.

One section of the 606th deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to offer deployable radar, radio and data-link capabilities where the Airmen averaged a 99 percent overall mission effective rating.

"There is no air superiority without air control," said Maj. Gabe Hull, a 606th ACS member who commanded the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron at Kandahar. "We bring the capability to create an accurate air picture. We also create communication channels for operators to see and communicate with the pilots. Any time you have aircraft flying, you have to have the ability to communicate."

The 606th Airmen also deployed to other locations throughout Southwest Asia to support more than 250,000 square miles of persistent long-range radar, data links and radio communication.

"We create order out of chaos," said Staff Sgt. Paul McGachey, a 606th ACS member who worked as a northeast battle management area controller and tank controller in Southwest Asia. "In a deployed environment, there are many squadrons that perform specific objectives and individual missions. They all need to communicate with each other, and we prioritize and manage the communication assets.

"We deployed in the peak of the fighting season and stepped up during the busiest time of the year," he continued. "I'm glad to be back, but we had an awesome experience on our deployment."