910th Communications Squadron receives AFWERX funding Published July 21, 2020 By Airman Chris Corso 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- The 910th Communications Squadron received AFWERX squadron innovation funds to aid in its mission. The fund granted the 910th CS $6,000 to upgrade storage and memory equipment in order to simulate the weapons platform that will be deployed by Mission Defense Teams. “Our particular request was to support the upgrade to the training lab that we established for the Mission Defense Team which was a new mission that was assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing within the comm. squadron,” explained Master Sgt. Jared Shuman, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the 910th CS’s Mission Defense Team. MDTs defend the C-130H Hercules aircraft weapons system, reporting directly to the wing commander. They search for potential weaknesses and attacks on the network while performing the core functions of identifying, protecting, detecting, responding and recovering. “The nice thing about it is that we’re basically able to replicate the weapons system that we will be able to operate on, so our Airmen will be able to get a head start instead of waiting for the weapons platform to arrive,” said Shuman. When it comes to defending our nation, every advantage helps accomplish the mission. The additional funding will not only provide extra training to those serving now but create better, well-rounded Airmen in the future. “We have a head start that enables us to gain months in the timeline to get training qualified on the weapons system prior to its arrival. That’s a pretty significant advantage for us,” said Shuman. The 910th Communications Squadron looks to the future as it provides cyberspace operations through command, control and computer defense while deployed and in garrison. Since 2018, AFWERX squadron innovation funds have assisted countless Air Force squadrons in bettering their mission readiness.