21st AMOS, Silver Bullet bring command, control to sky Published Nov. 17, 2006 By By Lt. Col. John Millard 21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron commander MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- The 21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron is a dynamic, total force squadron of 36 different Air Force specialties. During its 30-year history, the squadron has evolved into a weapon system of recognized experts in air mobility leadership, strategic and operational planning, command and control, theater mobility support and expeditionary communications. Not only does it produce theater air mobility operations for combatant commanders as the core of an air mobility division in an air and space operations center, the squadron also execute the distinguished visitor airborne communication mission. This is unique to the Air Force, and it is the only squadron to provide this capability with the Silver Bullet and VIPER II Aeronautical Terminal systems. The DV airborne communication mission started in the early 1990s when a requirement to transport DVs into and out of a high-threat or austere environment was needed. Air Mobility Command, working with combatant commanders, developed a mobile command and control module that could be loaded onto a C-141 aircraft to provide long-range transportation with a robust global communications capability. The C2 module was a palletized Airstream trailer, with an embedded communications suite, and became known as the Silver Bullet. Two Silver Bullets were developed by the Air Force Research Laboratories, one was stationed at McGuire and the other at Yokota Air Base, Japan. In the mid-90s, both Silver Bullets received a separate communications module to provide UHF/VHF communications and commercial satellite voice and data services. During the same period, the mission at McGuire became the responsibility of the 621st Air Mobility Operations Group. In 1998, the capability to transport the Silver Bullet was expanded to include the KC-10, and then expanded to the C-17 in 2000. In late 2005, the Yokota Bullet became permanently assigned to McGuire and the communication mission is currently assigned to the 21st AMOS. Each Silver Bullet mission typically deploys with three satellite communications maintainers who are trained in UHF/VHF communications and commercial satellite voice and data services. The Airmen serve as both operators and maintainers in-flight and are the key to the program's success. Their expertise includes aircraft loads and connections and the applicable technical challenges of maintaining connectivity at 30,000 feet while moving at 400 knots. The typical mission lasts five-to-seven days, and the troops maintain a TDY rate greater than 200 days a year. The Silver Bullet is literally an office in the sky with a full suite of command and control capabilities spanning all entities of the U.S. government and military. People who use the Silver Bullet include the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, chairman, joint chiefs of staff, members of Congress and many of the combatant commanders. This vital capability is not executed alone; the squadron works closely with the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to keep the mission on track. The 21st AMOS Communications Flight is also responsible for maintaining and executing the mission with a more flexible and mobile system called VIPER II. VIPER II is a transit case-based satellite communications system. It is designed to give the technicians the ability to hand carry the system on and off C-17, KC-10, and C-130 airframes. This system deploys with two maintainers and provides the robust communication capability required in DV travel. There are STEs for secure voice and SIPRNET/NIPRNET connectivity utilizing four, 64K satellite channels for both the data and voice communication. The 21st AMOS has transformed into a squadron with an amazing skill set. Whenever a DV needs global communication connectivity while traveling into and out of austere or hostile locations, it is the 21st AMOS who takes them to the fight. The Silver Bullet is an amazing system for the long range deployments of the senior leaders. And when the requirement is to get them into and out of the really remote sites, VIPER II is the perfect choice. The 21st AMOS is a leading expeditionary force, maintaining a forward posture to support our senior leaders and "ready to roll" at a moment's notice.