18 CS concentrates on CCRI

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen G. Eigel
  • 18th Wing public affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  (Editor's note: This is the third feature article in a three-part series highlighting the Command Compliance Readiness Inspection within the 18th Communications Squadron and how it is essential to the mission of Kadena Air Base and security of our base networks. This article will focus on what 18 CS is doing to help prepare Kadena for this important inspection.)

Long hours, sleepless nights and unsettled nerves are present in the 18th Communications with the Command Compliance Readiness Inspection scheduled for April 14-18.

18th CS is working hard to get Kadena prepared and is taking time to make sure all of the base networks and devices are configured correctly to protect our networks from vulnerabilities.

"The CCRI is an overall base score of how well the base is protected from vulnerabilities," said Capt. Bryan Hoffler, operations flight deputy, 18th Communications Squadron.

With the brunt of the CCRI falling on 18th CS they are also trying to make sure everyone else on base is prepared for the inspectors.

"Wing IP along with our security manager and wing IA who works in the communications squadron have formed a little trifecta," said Hoffler. "They are going around to all of the key locations on base over the next two weeks and looking around making sure they have all of their documents and paperwork in order."

While they have been going around base, there are a few Airmen who have really stood out in preparing for the inspection, and have put a lot of extra time and work into making Kadena ready.

"Airman 1st Class Brandon Donner led the re-imaging of hundreds of computers over several weeks and weekends," said Hoffler. "Staff Sgt. Damion Pompeo led the conversion and upgrade of hundreds of printers solving a Japan-wide printer issue for Kadena, Yakota, and Misawa Air Bases."

"Reimaging computers allows us to put a "healthy", up-to-date PC back on the network," he continued. "Reimaging in turn allows it to continue to receive updates and stay healthy. By reimaging hundreds of these, we were able to robust our network defense by removing thousands of vulnerabilities from the network."

While spending a lot of their time to do this they have had to cut back on dealing with some of the less pressing issues around base.

"People are going to see their tickets take a little bit longer and slow down," Hoffler said. "Priorities are shifted towards the CCRI, so if it is not a high priority it's going to take a little longer than normal."

Even while having people working extra hours it's hard to get things done when they don't have enough man power.

"We are only about 70 percent manned right now which is up from 50 percent of our client support technicians," Hoffler said. "They are the ones who are hands-on and actually go out to fix the ticketed issues on base."

With the CCRI on the horizon, 18th CS is working hard to help the base prepare for the Air Force wide inspection of base networks and security. The CCRI is an important test for Kadena and an essential part of maintaining secure networks.