ISST

Staff Sgt. Shawn Allen and Senior Airman Shawn Gealow help Staff Sgt Christopher Scherch and Senior Airman Manuel Desouza, all from the 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron, secure the wing's last remaining radome to a crane at Missile Alert Facility Charlie-01, June 2. With the removal of this radome and mast assembly, Warren became the first wing in 20th Air Force to complete the decommission of the ICBM Super High Frequency Satellite Terminal. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Toby Smith)

ISST

Senior Airman Jarrick Chappell, Staff Sgt. Shawn Allen, Senior Airman Shawn Gealaw and Senior Airman Manuel Desouza, all with the 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron, lower and secure a mast assembly to the bed of a crane as part of the ISST decommissioning project June 2. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Toby Smith)

ISST

Senior Airman Manuel Desouza, Senior Airman Shawn Gealaw, Staff Sgt. Justin Gress, Staff Sgt. Christopher Scherch and Staff Sgt Shawn Allen, all with the 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron, pose in front of the radome recently removed from Missile Alert Facility Charlie-01. The maintenance team, along with Staff Sgt. Steven Powers, Senior Airman Matthew Cannon, Senior Airman Jarrick Chappell and Airman 1st Class Kyle Wiens, also with the 90th MMXS, were responsible for the ISST decommissioning project. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Capt. Toby Smith)

Warren maintenance Airmen install new communication system

Published June 23, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Earlier this month, members of Air Force Global Strike Command's 90th Missile Maintenance Squadron completed the decommissioning of the ICBM Super High Frequency Satellite Terminal, or ISST.

The wing's last remaining ISST assembly was removed from Missile Alert Facility Charlie-01. Warren was the first base under 20th Air Force to complete the decommissioning of the ISST by replacing it with the Minimum Essential Emergency Communication Network system.

"The maintainers of the 90th MMXS have again gone forth and conquered, leading the way in 20th Air Force," said Lt. Col. Trevor Flint, 90th MMXS commander. "Master Sgt. Beau Jones, 90th MMXS Missile Communications Maintenance NCO-in-charge, and his missile communications maintenance team took this critical nuclear command and control maintenance task head on, and completed the ISST deactivation and equipment removal earlier than any other wing in 20th Air Force."

Prior to removing the ISST components, maintenance technicians ensured the MEECN system was up and running.

"This [MEECN] system is newer, faster and more reliable than the ISST system was," Sergeant Jones said.

The MEECN system communicates with Military Strategic and Tactical Relay satellites to transmit Emergency Action Messages to missile crews. The new system is scheduled to last 10 years before upgrades are needed.

"The procedures and techniques they used, as well as the lifting harness they designed and manufactured, is now being used by the other wings to complete their maintenance," Colonel Flint said. "I could not be more proud of this team for their ingenuity and tenacity in completing this deactivation."