User:Pmsyyz/445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron

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Members of the 444 ECS work on satellite dishes at FOB Shindand, Afghanistan in July 2010.

The 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (445 AEAS) is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force that last provided base communications support at Shindand Air Base (formerly Forward Operating Base Shindand), Afghanistan.[1] It is part of the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, which is in turn part of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing.

In 2011 the unit setup a secure system for deployed service members to watch their wives give birth back in the United States.[2][3]

History[edit]

Iraq[edit]

The 444th Expeditionary Communications Squadron (444 ECS) was active in 2003 for a few months under the short lived 444th Air Expeditionary Wing to support the preparation for and initial invasion of Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.[4] It was inactive for the next seven years.

Client systems technicians with the 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron unpack and setup new computer assets to be used at a newly created English language immersion center, Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, March 20, 2012.

Afghanistan[edit]

The 444 ECS "Nomads" was reactivated in mid 2010 at FOB Shindand, Afghanistan with 50 personnel reporting to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Air Field.[5] Shortly thereafter, in August or September, it was redesignated 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and reported to the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. The first group of Airmen deployed to the squadron had a tradition of playing rugby.[6] The unit laid the first fiber optic cable at the base.

As part of the 438 AEW, the 445 AEAS was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award for service service from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012.[7]

To do: insert photo from below ref

In March 2012, the unit setup the communications for an English language immersion school.[8]

Airmen from the 236th Combat Communications Squadron of the Louisiana Air National Guard formed much of the 445th for six months ending in late June 2012.

Airmen from the 239th Combat Communications Squadron of the Missouri Air National Guard formed much of the 445th for six months ending in Dec 2012.[9]

Airmen from the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard formed much of the 445th from December 2012 to June 2013.

Between December 23, 2013 and February 2, 2014, a Raytheon contractor stole over 150 pieces of computers and communications equipment valued at over $332,000, much of it from the squadron's storage containers.[10][11]

External images
image icon Squadron photo, March 2012
image icon Sq. coin for first half of 2012

The squadron was inactivated when communication services were taken over by the Army as part of 47th Garrison Command.

Commanders[edit]

Awards[edit]

Air Force Meritorious Unit Award

  • 1 May 2012 - 30 April 2013[14]
  • 1 May 2011 - 30 April 2012[15]
  • 1 May 2010 - 30 April 2011[16]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Airmen First Class Briana Gordillo, Humanitarian mission adds perspective, 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, 10/3/2011
  2. ^ Neal Ungerleider, Skype's Special Delivery For Active Duty Dads, Fast Company, 18 Nov 2011
  3. ^ Skype Babies, YouTube
  4. ^ intercom. April 2003, p. 20, Information managers: combat communicators
  5. ^ Shindand Sentinel, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 July 2010 [1]
  6. ^ MC2 Vladimir Potapenko, Shindand Rugby Fever, 11/20/2010
  7. ^ USAFCENT Special Order G-27772, 12 June 2012
  8. ^ Communicators keeping you connected in Afghanistan, 22 March 2012, AFCENT
  9. ^ Air Guard unit returns from Afghanistan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 22, 2013
  10. ^ Man Admits to Stealing $332K in Computer Equipment From Afghanistan Air Base
  11. ^ Plea Agreement, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, EASTERN DIVISION, No. 14 CR 720, USA v. TIMOTHY L. MAURER
  12. ^ Change of Command Invitation
  13. ^ Change of Command Storyboard; and photos
  14. ^ USAFCENT order G-40312 2013
  15. ^ USAFCENT order G-39321 2012
  16. ^ USAFCENT order G-19712 2011

Category:Air expeditionary squadrons of the United States Air Force

Category:Communications squadrons of the United States Air Force