They work with senior trip coordinators to ensure that all requirements are known in advance and, in turn, with the embassies and security staffs and a raft of other agencies around the world to ensure availability of power, cellular phones, phone lines and radio frequencies at all stops and during all movements. They also ensure that dialing instructions are clear and that hotel room comm centers will be adequate. This includes making sure the rooms are on upper floors and face directions that will allow satellite access. After arriving in the Pentagon-based division, all members are trained to proficiency in all four skills and learn to troubleshoot every piece of equipment. Candidates are selected by the Air Force Pentagon Communications Agency based on several criteria including professionalism, military bearing, breadth of experience and technical skills.
Applicants submit packages that contain performance reports and resumes.
A phone interview helps determine the ability to articulate. Shaw asked rhetorically. When those guys went out with Ambassador Holbrooke they were supporting a team that included reps from the White House, the State Department and the Defense Department. Ambassador Holbrooke was obviously the key but the others would need to be connected simultaneously with people at any given instant. Somebody has to make that decision.