Page 30 - Nov2024Communicator

4 SOPS team goes the distance to test

Mobile Constellation Control Station

By TSgt Tarelle Walker responsibility, with the goal of [creating] a
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Memorandum of Agreement between Space Operations
Command and JBPHH, on behalf of the 4th SOPS,” said
A group of 18 personnel from the 4th Space Operations White.
Squadron, a component of Delta 8, Peterson Space Force To meet these goals, the team needed to bring the
Base, Colo., traveled to Joint Base Pearl Harbor equipment to JBPHH and set it up, enabling them to
Hickam, Hawaii, for a contingency operations exercise to test the viability of the location knowing that aspects of
test a highly technical piece of equipment known as a certain environments can prevent a successful outcome.
Mobile Constellation Control Station. “Several factors were taken into consideration in
“The Milstar and Advanced Extremely High Frequency regard to a viable site location and testing of our
(AEHF) military satellite communications equipment to include line of sight to [the] satellite,
(MILSATCOM) system provides survivable, endurable which is the most important factor,” said Farrar. “If our
and protected communications for the highest levels of antenna is not capable of pointing to a satellite in space,
military and civilian leadership within the Department then the location simply would not work.”
of Defense,” said TSgt Andrew White, 4th SOPS In addition to the line of sight, other aspects had to be
transition maintenance supervisor. carefully considered such as security, power hook-ups
In today's complex and rapidly evolving military and fuel access.
landscape, reliable and secure communications are “During our testing, we verified that we could connect
necessary. The MCCS is a tool that plays a crucial role to a satellite within the area of responsibility through
in providing the linkages that enable military units to our mobile antenna,” White said. “After confirming
maintain contact with command centers and intelligence connection with the satellite, we began to test several
gathering systems. system tactics, techniques, procedures and checklists to
“We provide warfighters global, secure, survivable, verify that we have command and control over the
strategic and tactical communications during peacetime satellite.”
and throughout the full spectrum of conflict,” said Capt After establishing successful contact and meeting the
William Farrar, 4th SOPS mobile operations flight chief. main objectives, the team was able to take stock of their
White explained the goal behind this complex and far- accomplishment.
reaching mission. “The general group feeling is typically relief, pride and
“This exercise is intended to test site functionality and a sense of accomplishment to the 4th SOPS mobility
to lay the groundwork for establishing an additional mission,” said White. “We train hard and take pride in
operating site in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of what we do.”

Part of a mobile constellation control station sits Personnel from the 4th Space Operations
outside near the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Squadron pose outside of a C-17
Hickam, Hawaii, Aug 27, 2024. The equipment has Globemaster III at Joint Base Pearl Harbor
been flown in and assembled as part of a Hickam, Hawaii. The team arrived as part of
contingency operations exercise meant to test the a contingency operations exercise to test a
viability of a new location. (Air Force photo by TSgt piece of communications equipment known
Tarelle Walker) as the Mobile Constellation Control Station.
(Air Force photo by TSgt Tarelle Walker)

30 November 2024 Communicator