Mobile Signal team trains others on tactical satellites

Spc. Kevin Chandler Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 114th Signal Battalion, set up a Tactical Satellite antenna during a training exercise. The training is in preparation for upcoming missions next year in Central and South America. FORT DETRICK, Md. – A Mobile Training Team consisting of five Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 56th Signal Battalion, Fort Gordon, Ga., trained a group of 18 Signal Soldiers from the 114th Signal Bn. on Single-Channel Tactical Satellite operations. The training is to prepare the Soldiers for upcoming missions in Central and South America.

The team trained Soldiers to effectively set-up, operate and break down an entire TACSAT system. 114th Signal Bn. Soldiers received hands-on training on components of the system and all associated equipment including the Harris AN/PRC-117F(C) manpack radio. The AN/ PRC-117F(C) radio provides secure voice, highspeed data, and satellite communication capabilities. Using this radio, Soldiers can conduct radio procedures from a Tactical Operations Center, vehicle convoys, and other military operations.

Staff Sgts. Sean Sands and Miguel Najera, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 21st Signal Brigade, Fort Detrick, Md., set up a Tactical Satellite antenna during a training exercise. The trained Soldiers are preparing for future global missions as augmentees with the 56th Signal Bn. The augmentees will help provide support to manage and sustain defense communications, base communications and information services throughout the area of operations.

“This training is to familiarize the augmentees. Those Soldiers that are primarily pointed out to help support missions in Central America next year,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mario Dixon from HHD, 56th Signal Bn. “We have Soldiers designated from Communication Management Support Teams, 114th Signal Bn. and 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera), Fort Meade, Md., that are going to be used to augment missions next year and the purpose to come here is to familiarize them with our TACSAT kits and our single channel TACSAT operations.” On previous Central America missions, 21st Signal Brigade Soldiers conducted missions in various countries such as Panama, Honduras, and Belize.

Staff Sgt. Patrick Murray, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 56th Signal Battalion, demonstrates to a group of Soldiers how to set up and operate a Single Channel Tactical Satellite system. The Soldiers are preparing for upcoming missions next year. This is the first phase of training the Soldiers will receive. They will retrain to hone the skills that are necessary for the success of that mission. “We normally get augmentees two to three days prior to going out on missions from Fort Gordon. When Soldiers come to us with extensive knowledge, the only thing we need do is to give them a refresher and we normally conduct a mission readiness exercise prior to conducting missions,” said Dixon.

Sgt. Robert Regulus from HHD, 114th Signal Bn. said, “I’ve acquired an understanding of how the system works and how to set it up and put it into operation. Before today my entire experience with this equipment was zero. I’ve never put my hands on it before in all my previous duty stations, the Signal Support Systems Specialists handled all the radio communications, so this is a new experience for me.”

Having Soldiers trained on technical tasks outside of their career field brings added value to the knowledge for today’s war fighter. With Soldiers being familiarized on advanced radio equipment, they are well prepared for future realistic situations, and will contribute greatly to the overall success of the mission.

At the end of the class the Soldiers were given a test to set up and breakdown an entire S/C TACSAT system with current COMSEC within a ten minute timeframe. All 18 Soldiers successfully completed training on the Single Channel TACSAT operations and achieved operational readiness with the vital communications equipment.