Florida, Ohio Guard Units Strengthen Communications Partnership

The Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing recently joined forces with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 220th Engineering Installation Squadron to improve communication infrastructure, strengthen mission readiness and provide hands-on training for airmen.

Earlier this summer, airmen assigned to the 220th Engineering Installation Squadron, who specialize in capabilities such as network infrastructure, communication systems installation and maintenance, and spectrum analysis, traveled to the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, to assess and document its existing communication infrastructure; the mission served as an opportunity to integrate and provide expert support.

“We are documenting the layout of the communication infrastructure currently in place,” said Air Force 1st Lt. Grant Warren, a cyberspace operations engineer assigned to the 220th. “We are making sure it’s properly labeled and accurately updated within the digital repository used by communications squadrons and engineering installation units across the service.”

The team traced communication pathways between facilities, confirmed cable routes, reviewed labels and updated infrastructure records.

Accurate documentation is critical when communication systems are damaged or disrupted. If a cable is cut or a building experiences an outage, technicians must quickly determine where the problem occurred and how it affects the broader network.

Warren noted that keen, accurate insight into the communication infrastructure keeps the base out of the dark.

“We may know that it starts in one building and ends in another, but we need to know what happens in between,” he said. “Having a better understanding of that infrastructure increases our strategic capabilities when it comes to the mission.”

The assessment also supported long-term planning. By understanding which pathways and resources are available, the 125th can make informed decisions about future communication requirements, infrastructure upgrades and support for new mission systems.

Reliable communications enable command and control, aircraft operations, maintenance, logistics and coordination with military and civilian partners. According to Warren, that makes communication infrastructure critical to mission success.

“Without communications, many operational missions would not be possible,” he said. “We provide that capability, and it’s a critical linchpin to have individuals who are capable of meeting the standards, ensuring that missions can go uninterrupted.”

This project also gives junior airmen new experiences outside of their normal day-to-day practice, giving them a greater sense of the capabilities and expectations of the communications squadron’s mission.

“It’s important to do the job right the first time, because that means less work for the airmen who come after us,” said Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Brommeland, a radar, airfield and weather system specialist assigned to the 220th.

Brommeland said serving as a multicapable airman broadens his experience and gives him opportunities to work with his hands while learning different parts of the mission.

The partnership demonstrates one of the National Guard’s key strengths: sharing expertise and resources across states. The 125th gained a clearer understanding of its communication network, while the 220th received realistic training in a different operational landscape.

By working together, both units improved their capabilities and contributed to a force that is always ready and always there.