JCSE enables DAF’s first-in-a-generation DLE series

Published Aug. 7, 2025
By Senior Airman Zachary Foster
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --

Thousands of service members rapidly deployed into theater on July 11, 2025, to kick off the Air Force’s first-in-a-generation 2025 Department-Level Exercise series. Before the mass mobilization began, however, a small team of highly skilled technicians had to lay the groundwork for reliable communication between the U.S. and partner nations.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Lumley, an information technology specialist assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Choe, JCSE expeditionary communicator, assemble a Hawkeye 360 satellite during the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise series at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 13, 2025. More than 40 JCSE personnel deployed to the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility to provide expeditionary communications support to Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and their Allies and partners. The DLE encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, Allies, and partners, employing over 400 joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 personnel across more than 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Foster)

On July 3, two weeks before the exercise began, 40 members from the Joint Communications Support Element deployed to the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility to provide the backbone of information technology support across all elements of the exercise series. JCSE, a rapid-response communications team under the U.S. Transportation Command, is often among the first units on the ground during operations.
“Exercises like these require extensive planning to execute,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Lumley, a JCSE information technology specialist. “Months before our arrival, we had teams building kits, mapping out communication architecture, and coordinating logistics to get everything in place before the execution staff arrives.”
Unlike traditional support units, JCSE personnel bring extensive joint expertise and serve as the primary communications infrastructure for all elements of the exercise series. The team began with traditional wireless connectivity but quickly scaled up to meet increasing demands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, a key air mobility hub in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Choe, an expeditionary communicator assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, assembles a Hawkeye 360 satellite during the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise series at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 13, 2025. More than 40 JCSE personnel deployed to the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility to provide expeditionary communications support to Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and their Allies and partners. The DLE encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, Allies, and partners, employing over 400 joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 personnel across more than 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Foster)

Exercises are ever evolving, which requires the JCSE team to adapt to changing and increasing demands.
“What makes us unique is our ability to hit the ground and solve problems as they arise,” Lumley said.
Despite the uncertainty, the team’s ability to adapt in real-time proved critical to the mission’s early success.
“We always overpack for these large exercises,” added U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Karlie Rogers, a JCSE expeditionary communicator. “Bringing extra supplies helps ensure the mission continues 24/7 without interruption."
The JCSE’s capability stems from its regular participation in both exercises and real-world operations. Over the past two years, JCSE teams have supported exercises like Mobility Guardian and others spanning the Indo-Pacific region. These operations laid the foundation for the full spectrum of air activities taking place during the DLE 2025.
“One of the unique elements we bring to this exercise is our recurring role in each iteration,” Rogers said. “Every year we come out, we learn more about the needs of our customers and more about how we can not only meet but exceed their expectations.”
In addition to their internal expertise, JCSE communicators rely on the Joint Force and Allies and partners to adapt to the developing information environment.
“Exercises like these have been great for networking with our joint and international counterparts,” Lumley said. “In the short time we’ve been here, our communicators have immersed themselves with members of the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force. We’re also developing closer relationships with critical partners, including the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, U.S. Space Force, Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Force Reserve Command.”

Expeditionary communicators assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, pose for a photo during the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise series at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 13, 2025. More than 40 JCSE personnel deployed to the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility to provide expeditionary communications support to Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command, and their Allies and partners. The DLE encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, Allies, and partners, employing over 400 joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 personnel across more than 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Foster)

Through these collaborations, JCSE members identify areas for future improvement.
According to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Choe, a JCSE expeditionary communicator, one growing focus is mobile, long-range wireless connectivity.
“After embedding with members of Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s 627th Communications Squadron, we found a unique method to deliver wireless connectivity to our customers,” Choe said. “The idea is to use 5G towers in conjunction with commercial satellite capabilities to deliver internet service to wireless pucks up to miles away. That would make a sizeable impact on our ability to operate in austere locations.”
The team also maintains a rapid-response capability. According to Lumley, the standard expectation is to deliver support anywhere in the world within 72 hours.
Unlike most information technology teams, members of JCSE are expected to be masters of every aspect of the job. With personnel sourced from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, their joint experience positions them as the premier communications standard across the Department of Defense.

From left, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Karlie Rogers, an expeditionary communicator assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Flight Sergeant Tim Clark, Royal New Zealand Air Force 230th Squadron Tactical Data Link Cell, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Choe, JCSE expeditionary communicator, discuss best practices for military communications at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise series, July 14, 2025. JCSE’s ability to deploy quickly and operate with minimal equipment allows it to deliver secure, reliable communications support promptly. The DLE encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, Allies, and partners, employing over 400 joint and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 personnel across more than 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Dalton Williams)

“We have to be the best because without stable communications, the entire exercise is at risk,” Lumley said. “The standard of support doesn't come easy, especially for a first-in-a-generation exercise like the DLE 2025. It required a large portion of our force."
Reliable communication is the framework of every successful mission, and JCSE makes that possible. Through their preparation, adaptability and joint expertise, the DLE 2025 is bringing together more than 12,000 personnel and 400 coalition aircraft across 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles. Their work ensures the Joint Force and its partners can operate as one team, anywhere, anytime, and sets the standard for future missions to follow.