Last Broadcasts by JET Airmen at AFN-Iraq
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL ZONE, Iraq – A group of Joint Expeditionary Tasking (JET) Airmen from the 732nd Expeditionary Support Squadron, now serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, may be among the final Airmen to fulfill this mission as they operate the American Forces Network-Iraq.
Collaborating closely with Navy and Army partners, these Airmen provide over 92 hours of live radio broadcasts each week, produce daily news segments, and record announcements in compact studios located in a parking garage beneath an office building.
Chief Master Sgt. Kerry Porter, the station manager stationed here from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, stated, “We broadcast radio not only for Iraq but also for troops in Afghanistan and Kuwait, along with a 10-minute newscast that airs on AFN and the Pentagon Channel from Monday to Friday.”
In their workspace, one side showcases a wall filled with photographs and transcripts of significant briefings, while the other contains the Combined Press Information Center, featuring a well-equipped briefing room along with a distinct area for interpreters to provide live translations. “Our support extends to the CPIC for live conferences,” remarked Porter, originally from Northeast England.
The AFN-I team doesn’t just operate from studios; they also venture out across the country to gather stories. Tech. Sgt. Marty Rush, a broadcaster deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan, explained, “Accessing certain locations can be tough because traveling is limited to convoys or helicopters, but it’s rewarding to highlight the achievements of young Soldiers on the ground.”
To maintain AFN-I’s operations throughout Iraq, a dedicated team of visual imagery and intrusion-detection system technicians is vital. One team, based at Camp Slayer, covers 22 repeater sites and over 50 forward-operating and combat bases, guaranteeing the upkeep of $826,000 worth of broadcasting equipment, as stated by Tech. Sgt. Garrett Rosier from Ogden, Utah.
The television studio, recognizable by its “Freedom Journal Iraq” backdrop adorned with camouflage netting and sandbags, is where the show is recorded five times weekly. “Each day, more than 5.9 million viewers see my face,” shared Senior Airman Tyler Alexander, the show’s anchor, emphasizing his connection with news reports from public affairs units in Iraq.
