23d CS Airmen keep busy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eileen Meier
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  What may seem like an insignificant computer malfunction to one person may be a tedious task for Airmen at the 23d Communications Squadron.

In a typical week, the 23d CS will receive 500 to 600 communications request forms by email, not including phone calls asking how to put in a request and create remedy tickets for each one. Customer's computers are serviced in the order the request forms are submitted, some taking much longer than others depending on the problem.

"We sometimes receive 50 to 300 computers a week to fix, with an estimated 14,400 a year," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Gustavo Perez, 23d CS client service technician.

With technology constantly innovating, the 23d CS has their hands full every day with client's computers requiring the latest upgrades.

"One of the most challenging parts of my job is the constant change we have in our operating systems, for example, the transition from Windows Vista to Windows 7," said Perez. "Everyone's PC needs to be upgraded."

In a back room of the 23d CS are tables of computers, some disassembled with wires spilling out over dislodged hard drives, others still in the process of a problem being diagnosed. Troubleshooting PC problems involves creative insight and most importantly, teamwork.

"Everyone in our shop has a unique area of expertise," said Perez. "Whether they learned it before the Air Force, during training or through-out their career, we communicate with each other if something can't be fixed. If we have to, we'll call the manufacturer, or just use a search engine to find the problem."

With the CS being our source of help for the most miniscule to the utmost important of problems, they are rarely without pending tasks. Things like receiving new inventory and disposing of the old are jobs of their own.

"In our career field we route everyone through to different parts of the communication squadron, we are also computer, radio, and phone technicians if we are not working at the help desk," said Airman 1st Class Erick Wickstrom, 23d CS client service technician.

"If something isn't working on base, communication wise, it could affect the mission or even stop it."

Some Airmen require licenses to operate fork-lifts or top secret security clearances to handle information going through the secret internet protocol router network. Together they fulfill their part in the Moody mission.

"We train and deploy combat communication, to implement and sustain C4I systems for expeditionary Air Bases worldwide." said Perez. "The squadron directs operations, maintenance, and planning of the network control center, radar, meteorological and navigational aids."

The 23d CS is only a phone call away when their services are needed, sometimes a lot more than other days.

"There are aspects of my job that I do like, and aspects that I don't like," said Wickstrom, "but we are a help desk, and customer service will always remain a priority to us."