News>Communication technicians keep base mission wired
Photos
Senior Airman Regina Dunn, 8th Communication Squadron client systems technician, uses a tone generator to match a port on a switch to a communication line that was installed Sept. 7, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Technicians troubleshoot and support more than 4,000 information technology assets for more than 3,000 base clients. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Tong Duong)
Senior Airman Regina Dunn, 8th Communication Squadron client systems technician, installs a power supply unit to a customer’s computer at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 7, 2012. Technicians troubleshoot 100 to 150 computers a week. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Tong Duong)
Senior Airman Regina Dunn, 8th Communication Squadron client systems technician, separates wires by their color code, while demonstrating how to make a Category 5 communication cable at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Sept. 7, 2012. Technicians have the networking skills necessary to maintain computers, telephones, land mobile radios, and other communication desktop equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Tong Duong)
by Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
9/19/2012 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- As we advance beyond hardcopy documentation and become more tethered to an electronic communication, maintaining our systems takes on a new meaning and becomes even more important.
Client systems technicians from the 8th Communication Squadron ensure end-user client-level devices meet today's communications demands.
"The CST teams are responsible for providing 100-percent communication touch maintenance to the Wolf Pack community so each user is able to meet their daily mission requirements," said Master Sgt. Mason Wilson, 8th CS NCO in charge of CST.
Technicians have the networking skills necessary to maintain computers, telephones, voice over internet protocol, land mobile radios, printers, Blackberries, cell phones and other communication desktop equipment, and can reliably interface with the Kunsan base infrastructure, according to the South Carolina native.
Overall, CSTs maintain and update more than 4,000 information technology assets valued at $5.2 million for more than 3,000 base clients.
Senior Airman Regina Dunn, 8th CS client service technician, says her work day consists of ensuring all network connectivity such as emails or internet are up and running, working on telephones or troubleshooting to replace components in computers.
On average, CSTs troubleshoot 100 to 150 computers a week. Some jobs require less than 30 minutes to fix while others may take up to a week.
Troubleshooting is something Dunn takes pride in and likes to do. For the Philadelphia, Pa., native, it's like solving little puzzles.
"I feel our job plays a big part in the Kunsan mission because every shop runs off of computers and technology," Dunn said. "It makes me feel good to know that I am doing my part to keep it going."
