Cyber warriors keep the mission going Published Oct. 29, 2015 By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media sites have been conquering the world on a day-to-day basis and people have to be cautious what information they put out there because it can harm them or their loved ones. At Fairchild, Airmen using government computers are trained to be cyber-savvy, but the 92nd Communications Squadron Airmen are there to keep the mission going smoothly and safely when it comes to network security. Cyberspace adversaries such as hackers attack government networks everyday. However, those adversaries aren't successful most of the time; and that's because Airmen from the 92nd CS create a safe, secure and resilient cyber environment for everybody to be able to perform the mission successfully day in and day out. "Everyone has a part in the mission and without that part, it can potentially stop the mission from happening. For example, flyers need computers in order to schedule and plan their flights and if those computers don't work, they won't be able to fly," said Senior Airman Bradly Stinger, 92nd CS client systems technician. "Hence 'Cyber Warriors' - we are the defenders of the computers and printers." According to Senior Airman Dale Clark, 92nd CS client systems technician, another aspect is cyber security. There are a lot of network attacks, and it's their job to defend and repair computers. The job of a cyber warrior is vital to keep everything secure and ensure mission success. "Without a dedicated client system team, a squadron to require its own trained technician. Being the only technician in a squadron can be a challenge when the individual is struggling because they won't have anybody else to help them," Stinger said. "We have it centralized here so everyone can be taught and get help when they are struggling with something." The biggest part of being a cyber warrior is being able to provide the resources that Airmen need to accomplish their jobs and staying safe at the same time, Clark said. "We do our part for the mission by keeping the communication going from one location to another through emails and phone calls," Clark said. "If you think about it, every single career field on base uses computers. In short, without us we would have to write our documents and mail them." According to Stinger, being a CST keeps him on his toes. He learns something new everyday from tackling different issues that come his way. In addition, it gives him a sense of accomplishment when he figures out and fixes the issue so it won't hinder Airmen from accomplishing their job. "Solving the issue and seeing people smile gives me pride," Clark said. "It's rewarding to hear them say 'thank you' and to know that we help keep the mission going." "Wired up, fired up" is a motto they live up to. "Everything on base is connected and everything is powered on," Stinger said. "Without the 92nd CS, we're back to typewriters."
