User:Pmsyyz/445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron

The 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (445 AEAS) is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force that last provided base communications support at Shindand Air Base (formerly Forward Operating Base Shindand), Afghanistan. It was part of the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, which was in turn part of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing.

In 2011 the unit setup a secure system for deployed service members to watch their wives give birth back in the United States.

Iraq
The 444th Expeditionary Communications Squadron (444 ECS) was active in 2003 for a few months under the short lived 444th Air Expeditionary Wing to support the preparation for and initial invasion of Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was inactive for the next seven years.



Afghanistan
The 444 ECS "Nomads" was reactivated in mid 2010 at FOB Shindand, Afghanistan with 50 personnel reporting to the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Air Field. Shortly thereafter, in August or September, it was redesignated 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and reported to the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. The first group of Airmen deployed to the squadron had a tradition of playing rugby. The unit laid the first fiber optic cable at the base.

As part of the 438 AEW, the 445 AEAS was awarded the Meritorious Unit Award for service service from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2012.

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In March 2012, the unit setup the communications for an English language immersion school.

Airmen from the 236th Combat Communications Squadron of the Louisiana Air National Guard formed much of the 445th for six months ending in late June 2012.

Airmen from the 239th Combat Communications Squadron of the Missouri Air National Guard formed much of the 445th for six months ending in Dec 2012.

Airmen from the 283rd Combat Communications Squadron of the Georgia Air National Guard formed much of the 445th from December 2012 to June 2013.

Between December 23, 2013 and February 2, 2014, a Raytheon contractor stole over 150 pieces of computers and communications equipment valued at over $332,000, much of it from the squadron's storage containers.

The squadron was inactivated when communication services were taken over by the Army as part of 47th Garrison Command.

Commanders

 * Major Noland T. Greene (34th Combat Communications Squadron), mid 2010 - 29 Dec 2010
 * Major Shelly Prescod (34th CBCS), 30 Dec 2010 - June 2011
 * Major Caleb A. Malcolm (54th Combat Communications Squadron), June 2011 - Dec 2011
 * Lt Col Timothy M. Jeandron (236th Combat Communications Squadron), Dec 2011 - 21 June 2012
 * Major Joseph P. Meister (239th Combat Communications Squadron), 22 June 2012 - ? 2013

Awards
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
 * 1 May 2012 - 30 April 2013
 * 1 May 2011 - 30 April 2012
 * 1 May 2010 - 30 April 2011