An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

March takes on One Base, One Network

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Bridgitte Taylor

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – The 163d Attack Wing is undergoing a transformation in its information technology infrastructure as part of a broader effort to align with evolving national defense priorities after 10 years of development.

The 163d Communications Flight and 452nd Communications Squadron spearheaded the initiative “One Base, One Network,” or 1B1N, which aims to increase network security, enhance readiness, cut down costs, and improve connection speed.

The 1B1N initiative aims to unify multiple networks into a single, secure and efficient platform by integrating Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command networks that support joint operations and readiness across all components.

“Before 1B1N, we had digital silos where ANG and AFRC personnel had to navigate different networks, logins and hardware when doing their jobs. It wasn’t efficient,” said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Crandell, 163d Communication Flight and the primary 1B1N project manager.

“By consolidating onto a single Department of the Air Force enterprise network, we are practicing Total Force Integration every single day. An Airman can sit down anywhere on this installation, log in seamlessly and get to work. It also allows us to train exactly how we fight. When our Airmen deploy, they operate on a unified network. This initiative ensures they are using that same secure, standardized platform right here at home station.”

Additionally, Tech. Sgt. Christian Ruiz, 163d CF, said, “The use of standardized tools, such as Cisco services, provides Airmen with hands-on experience on the same systems they will use during deployments or active missions, heightening familiarity across systems.”

Beyond enhancing Airmen readiness, the initiative also delivers measurable cost savings.

“A big advantage is that it reduces a lot of the redundant connections that we have in our communications rooms, so that's less network cables that we’re having to deploy out to users; it saves us money on network equipment,” said Ruiz. “We probably reduced maybe half of our spending footprint [which equates to] hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

The modernization effort also strengthens cyber resilience by eliminating outdated systems and reducing vulnerabilities.

“Through this project, we eliminated outdated, end-of-life hardware that was difficult to defend," said Crandell. “We completely refreshed our networking switches across the installation, giving the base the bandwidth required for modern, data-heavy operations. By connecting to multiple network cores, we’ve eliminated single points of failure. If one pathway goes down, the mission doesn't stop.”

In the past year, the 163d CF played a key role in cleaning infrastructure across more than 25 buildings by removing hundreds of excess cables and repurposing assets. Through initiatives like 1B1N, the 163d ATKW is not only improving day-to-day operations but also, through cross-unit coordination and infrastructure changes, demonstrating a streamlined, team-driven approach that ensures the force remains prepared, connected, and capable of responding while positioning the base for a more efficient, resilient, and mission-ready network.