Helping the 86th AEG deploy African peacekeepers, eight members of Ramstein’s 1st Combat Communications team provided critical tactical communications—necessary for such short-notice missions and bare base operations. The comm team comprised a communications officer, tech controller, and data, power production, radio, satellite, and telephone technicians, had all systems running within 24 hours. “At base comm, you’d only hold one piece of a system,” said data technician SSgt. Rich Bundy, adding, “Here, you’re the one guy to hold the whole package.”
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…