Photo By Sgt. Anthony Hooker | U.S. Army Spc. Jeremy McKinney, left, a cable systems installer-maintainer with the...... read more read more
FORT GORDON, Ga. - Army Reserve soldiers with the 490th Signal Company (Tactical Installation Network- Enhanced) wrapped up training exercises June 7 after a taxing three-week period at Fort Gordon, Ga. Over 110 soldiers endured 12- to15-hour workdays where they regularly participated in classes or received individual instruction.
Located in Blacklick, Ohio, the 490th SC (TIN) is in the beginning stages of training as they prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan later this year. Soldiers learned how to operate and maintain secure Internet protocol and non secure Internet protocol access (known as SNAP training), raise and connect a tactically mobile point-to-point radio, create fiber optic cable, and operate a “Ditchwitch,” a 19,000-pound vehicle that can create 8-foot deep holes and lay cable in one sequence.
Spc. Shawnta Moore said she found the amount of class training overwhelming but served as a reminder that the upcoming deployment is real. “All of this training creates the mindset that we have [little time] before we mobilize,” said Moore, a cable systems installer who is a monitor technician for an Atlanta-area hospital in her civilian career. “Although we received all of this training, we have to be attentive because you might have to apply what you learn.”
The company’s primary objective was to validate direct signal support teams, but with over 60 percent of the unit’s personnel cross-leveled, or transferred into the company, familiarization was a big task that allowed soldiers’ hands-on experience with various communication devices.
Capt. Emile Hawkins, commander of the 490th SC (TIN), said when he took command of the unit in 2011, only 23 of 152 authorized slots were filled. As his company began to fill its ranks with troops, Hawkins knew that it was important to install a solid foundation of standards before training would begin. “We operated under a premise we call TRDs: Training, Resources and Discipline,” said Hawkins, a New Orleans native. “Discipline makes sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. They do tasks when they need to be done – not have someone standing over their shoulder.”
Fort Gordon is home to signal operations in the Army so Hawkins said it was a no-brainier that training on post satisfied the unit’s desire for proper training resources. Once class time was secured with contractors, Hawkins, 1st Lt. Courtney Bradley, the company executive officer, and 1st Sgt. Ricky Jestice, the company first sergeant, shifted their focus to identifying training tasks that needed to be completed before the 490th SC (TIN) would receive approval from Armed Forces Command to move to the next phase of mobilization.
The 490th SC (TIN) troops held classes on cultural awareness, equal opportunity, sexual harassment, and suicide awareness. Training geared to improve individual performance such as land navigation and identifying heat/cold injuries were created for familiarization and to see what area of training required greater attention.
Bradley said the leadership team did not initially have a defined list of who could lead various courses but learned their new noncommissioned officers were intent on making sure training missions would get accomplished in a timely manner.
Staff Sgt. Israel Ramirez will serve on the commander’s personal security detail. Ramirez, a Midland, Texas, native, has served in Iraq, Kosovo and Macedonia; he also participated in Operation Warrior-Trainer, a First Army –sponsored program where recently-deployed soldiers took their experiences in theater and shared them with Reservists and Guardsmen preparing to deploy to the Middle East.
Ramirez said he simply knew that the unit needed the training and he had the skill to do it. “After two, three years of teaching lanes, you build a memory muscle,” Ramirez said. “I was able in previous deployments to emotionally and psychologically mentor soldiers, helping them understand the importance of being in uniform and that they are brothers and sisters in arms.”
“We have an NCO who trained and evaluated companies year-round in combat situations like how to avoid/defeat an improvised explosive device and how to react in an urban environment,” said Bradley. “When we were preparing our situational exercises for lane training, Ramirez volunteered to take the lead. His background helped soldiers better execute the training because they understood what is at stake.”
Spc. Matthew Mason was cross-leveled into the 490th SC (TIN) early in the year. Learning that many of the team positions were unsettled, Mason, a cable systems installer, realized that lower-enlisted soldiers would be given opportunities to become valued leaders of signal teams once the unit received its assignments in Afghanistan. Preparing for his second deployment, Mason said it is awkward and stressful to be among strangers but learned his previous experiences can help accurately describe the challenges of a signal soldier.
“Some of the newer soldiers I met think deployment means we will be kicking in doors or fighting like the characters in ‘Call of Duty,’” Mason, a Martinez, Ga., native said, “Coming here they need to understand that learning how to work at a service desk or pull cable could be the most important thing they do overseas…Those jobs become very important when you are moved to [different forward operating bases] and falling in on equipment.”
Jestice said it was encouraging to see soldiers repeatedly volunteer their skills. “It’s nice to see folks volunteering because it lets you know they want to be here,” Jestice said. “It helps morale because if you have soldiers who don’t want to be here, it will hurt morale.”
When asked, soldiers originally assigned to the 490th SC (TIN) and those who were transplanted in gave positive reviews of the unit’s training environment. Pfc. Brennan Green is one of the few Soldiers organically assigned to the 490th SC (TIN). Meeting soldiers from Texas, Georgia, Kentucky and Colorado, Green said having so many new coworkers has been great for the unit’s morale with the major conflicts coming from giving random items a proper identification. “My roommate here is from Texas and we’ve gotten into arguments over what the right way to describe something,” said Green. “We use the word pop back in Ohio, but when I said it, my roommate was like ‘Pop? Who says that?’”
Army Reserve Spc. Eric Bruce said he has been pleasantly surprised with the cooperation and respect soldiers have shown one another. Bruce said training efforts are not a mystery and the young soldiers have impressed him with their maturity. “I wasn’t worried about being assigned with new, unknown co-workers, but we had to break up a fight the last time I deployed,” said Bruce, a Lavonia, Ga., native who voluntarily joined late in 2012.
Jestice and Hawkins know that some situations will get to their soldiers. “It’s hot, you are away from home, and we didn’t have much entertainment while staying on post,” Hawkins said. “We’ve just brought in some people who have good attitudes.”
Jestice said he makes a consistent effort to keep the 490th SC (TIN) esprit d’ corps high - usually with a casual conversation. “I will usually ask what has gone well, what’s gone bad – what can we do to improve?” said Jestice. “If they give me a heads-up on what is wrong, I’ll do what I can to help.”
Bruce said Jestice comes across well when addressing the unit. “The first sergeant seems serious but laid back – you can joke with him after-hours,” Bruce said. “That gives you more motivation for each day’s training.”
Jestice said he wants people to know that he isn’t looking for a ‘check the box’ discussion. “I’m genuine when I ask for feedback and I think, you know, the soldiers feel like they can speak their mind.”
Bradley, Hawkins and Jestice know that troops who maintain a high sense of enthusiasm allow leaders to do their jobs better. Bradley said it’s not about rank when a soldier is able to empower the unit with a teachable skill.
“Pfc. Green has an infantry background that he used to teach the company how to search vehicles properly and how to clear a site,” Bradley recalled. “Pfc. Green and Staff Sgt. Ramirez’s enthusiasm for the mission really helped establish the standard. I can’t even explain ...” said Bradley before releasing a long and knowing laugh. “It would’ve tired out all of our instructors if we only had a small group to pull from.”
Green said that he believes all of the shuffling of troops and classes is largely for one purpose: getting relationships created early so when the 490th SC (TIN) arrives in Afghanistan, they can already be an effectively team.
Jestice said as much when asked about maintaining good relations with his troops. “I’m not trying to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes,” Jestice remarked. “I want the soldiers to be ready when they go down range and accept the stressors that may visit them.”
“We all know what’s coming up [later this year],” said Green. “So everyone seems focused on putting aside differences.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2013 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 108610 |
| Location: | FORT GORDON, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | LAVONIA, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | MARTINEZ, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | MIDLAND, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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