Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Ringold | Command Post Node (CPN) team 57246 from 1st platoon, Company Bravo, 62nd Expeditionary...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas— Signalers from the 11th Signal Brigade conducted a Cumulative Training Exercise (CTE) from May 13-19 at field sites here. The CTE was to validate the 11th Signal Brigade’s ability to support the Army Contingency Force (ACF) mission.
The brigade’s main priority when called upon will be to provide mission command and Network Operations (NETOPS) for units conducting unified land operations. Part of the training requires Command Post Node (CPN) teams from the battalions in the brigade to “jump” to another location.
“Jumping is a test of how well we can pick-up, convoy, and set-up at a new site,” said Lt. Jonathon Hudson, platoon leader, 1st platoon, Company Bravo, 62nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion. “It allows us to see how quickly and efficiently we can set-up our equipment and provide communication services.”
In order to validate how well these teams are able to complete these tasks, each CPN team of six is given 45 minutes to move themselves and their equipment, completely set-up the power generation and the satellite system in a new location, and to also provide data and voice services.
A relatively new team, CPN Team 57246 from Company Bravo, consisted of only four Soldiers and had the mission to complete the same tasks.
“This is their first true drill and exercise as a team,” said Staff Sgt. Toby Miller, platoon sergeant, Company Bravo, 62nd ESB. “They are also short two team members.”
Even short two people, the team was able to complete everything in under the Army standard for what is usually a six person task.
Some teams are not able to complete this with six people, said Sgt. David King, CPN 57246 team leader. For this team of four to complete it well under time is incredible.
Being able to accomplish and excel at these tasks is a primary focus of the 11th Signal Brigade as it transitions from years of providing support in Afghanistan and Iraq to being prepared to operate in a more conventional wartime environment.
“This is the stuff we need to get back to,” said Hudson. “We need to get back to the basics.”
Despite having three of it’s four subordinate battalions currently deployed and the fourth at Fort Bliss as part of the Network Integration Exercise, the Brigade HQ was supported by elements from Company Charlie 57th ESB, Company Bravo 62nd ESB, and 16th TIN while simultaneusouly providing network support for these units.
With safety in mind, the brigade was also supported by medics from the 3-82 Field Artillery Regiment throughout the whole training event.
While this is the third Field Training Exercise (FTX) of the year for the Thunderbird Brigade, this is the first time they event was supported by a Mobile Kitchen Trailer (MKT). The MKT team from the 62nd ESB provided two hot meals a day for the duration of the exercise.
“The dining facility tent helped to keep the Soldiers fit and morale up,” said PV2 Robert Shobe, a medic from 3-82 Field Artillery Regiment.
With the Army getting backed to the basics instead of relying on Forward Operating Bases to run operations out of, this full scale exercise is just the type of training the brigade was looking for.
“Overall the exercise went well,” said Col. James C. Parks III, brigade commander, 11th Signal Brigade. “I thought we demonstrated our capacity to execute network communications and to establish our TAC.”
With each passing training event, the 11th Signal Brigade continues to improve their already extensive skill set. Continuing to train, maintain, and improve continues to shine light on why the Thunderbirds remain one of the most active signal units in the Army.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2014 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 132778 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 170 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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