The Colorado National Guard Communications Element

The Colorado National Guard Communications Element team leader, Master Sgt. John Isbell of the 233rd Space Communications Squadron, 233rd Space Group, Greeley, Colorado, talks to news media about their capabilities and mission, as the unit prepares to deploy in support of Hurricane Irma response efforts, prior to their departure from Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, Sept. 10, 2017.
The NGCE will operate the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability with eight Airmen of the 233rd SCS. They will travel via military aircraft to a staging area in Mississippi with follow-on orders to storm-affected areas. The JISCC supports the National Guard Communications Elements as prescribed by the Joint CONUS Communications Support Environment. It is tailored to the unique nature of homeland defense and civil support mission requirements, by providing non-secure voice, data, video, intra-team radio, and radio interoperability for first responders supporting the incident commander. The JISCC is transportable, C-130 aircraft or larger, rail, or by road in a trailer. It is a case-based system organized into five modules, including a satellite communications Reach-back module, Ku-band (Ka upgradeable) deployable satellite communications terminal, and a backup reach-back capability.
(U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Maj. Darin Overstreet)