Communications NCO manages team, keeps deployed crew connected

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST EUROPE --  In a short-notice deployment scenario, a lot of things have to happen at the same time for the mission to be successful. One essential element in the equation is communication.

About six hours after a contingent of Airmen and aircraft from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, landed in southwest Europe to support French operations in Mali, the lines of communication necessary for the unit to function were up and running, thanks to a team led by Staff Sgt. Ron Reeves, 100th Communication Squadron.

"Without comm, we wouldn't be able to do this mission," said Lt. Col. Heather Baldwin, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander. "Under his leadership, the comm team here makes things happen."

A self-proclaimed family man from Columbus, Ga., Reeves leads a five-person team of communication specialists tasked with setting up and maintaining computer and radio networks essential in the completion of the 24-hour, 7-days-a-week air refueling mission being conducted by the 351st EARS.

Supporting him on the homefront in England is his family: His wife, Andrea, and their two children, RJ, 1, and Ariyah, 2. Reeves says one of the things he looks forward to most about returning home is spending time with them playing board games and watching movies.

The seven-year Air Force veteran has spent the last year of his career at RAF Mildenhall, where he works at the 100th CS comm focal point, assisting customers with their communications-related issues.

Reeves credits the team he leads with the successful completion of his mission.

"Working with the people here, we've formed bonds that allow us to get the job done," he said. "We've come together like the perfect storm."