Airfield systems, ground radar Airmen join 71st OSS Published Sept. 5, 2014 By Staff Sgt. James Bolinger 71st FTW Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 71st Communications Squadron transitioned to a flight Sept. 1. The down size is a result of the airfield systems and ground radar Air Force Specialty Codes realigning to the 71st Operations Support Squadron. The process realignment of airfield systems and ground radar began in November 2012 during a Cyber Summit, where it was determined that these AFSCs were not inherently "cyber," said Jeffery Simon, the 71st Communications Squadron interim director. The 71st CS lost 20 Airmen who were converted to the 1C8 AFSC and transferred 71st OSS in July, said Simon. Seventeen Airmen will remain in the new communications flight, which will report to the 71st Mission Support Group commander. Career fields that remain with the flight will be related to cyber operations. The flight will be composed of operations, and plans and program elements. "The change should be transparent to customers of the communications squadron," said Simon. "We will continue to provide the 'Gold Standard' in communications support to Vance Air Force Base." The 71st CS became a squadron in 1948 in the Army Airways Communications Service. The squadron joined Team Vance in 1990 and was designated the 71st CS in 1991.