Grand Forks Air Force Base in ND to provide backup communications for US military, government

ND air force base to provide backup communications

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — If the communication system fails at Andrews Air Force Base near the nation’s capitol, airmen in North Dakota will be ready to take over.

The Grand Forks Air Force Base launched a new mission Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 319th Communications Squadron.

It will be the alternate control station for the Air Force’s High Frequency Global Communication System. It provides rapid communications support to the White House and Defense Department agencies, as well as U.S. embassies, military aircraft and ships.

Staff Sgt. Corina Arangune, who trains the operators of the new squadron, said the system grew out of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when communications systems were overloaded. The military decided backups were needed.