Photo By Staff Sgt. Heidi McClintock | Capt. Ryan Carlson, commander of the 234th Signal Company, and Pfc. Cody Johnson,...... read more read more
CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – Twenty-nine Soldiers from the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Lincoln–based 234th Signal Company have found themselves extremely busy as they have been charged with providing communication support for approximately 1,000 Soldiers from the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade during Exportable Combat Training Capacity training exercise, June 16-29, at Camp Ripley, Minnesota.
Exportable Combat Training Capacity, or otherwise known as XCTC, is an Army National Guard field training exercise designed to certify platoon proficiency in coordination with the First Army.
Throughout XCTC the Nebraska Army National Guard signal Soldiers have been responsible for developing, testing, providing and managing communication and information system support for their fellow Soldiers training in Minnesota.
It’s a huge job, say members of the unit.
“We are providing six footprints with our 29 Soldiers,” said Capt. Ryan Carlson, commander of the 234th SC. “So we are very busy, both on the tactical data side with the warrior information network tactical, and then on the field manual side with the [single channel ground and airborne radio system] radios and providing retransmission.”
In order to accomplish its important mission, the unit is constantly working to ensure everyone can communicate throughout Camp Ripley. That’s particularly daunting considering that members of the 67th BfSB, a Nebraska Army National Guard brigade based in Lincoln, are training throughout Camp Ripley, from the cantonment to the field training areas.
“It’s a big work load and it seems daunting at times,” said Carlson. “But we have a ton of experts and a lot of experience. And these Soldiers’ work ethic is unmatched.”
According to Carlson he couldn’t be more proud of how his team of Soldiers are performing.
“I’m really proud of these Soldiers of what they have done and what they have been able to accomplish over a short period of time,” said Carlson.
According to the Nebraska signal Soldiers, in order to keep the brigade’s communication channels working is extremely important, especially considering that the basic success of the whole XCTC training exercise is reliant upon the 67th BfSB’s ability to communicate to its various entities.
“[The brigade] is definitely dependent on us,” said Sgt. Corey Handley, a multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer with the 234th SC. “It’s a good feeling when you have everything going right.”
According to the 234th Soldiers, they couldn’t do their job without the teamwork ethic that has developed throughout the unit.
“I think having a lot of teamwork in our different sections helps a lot and is definitely an asset,” said Hanley.
The Soldiers said they are also pleased with the work they have been able to provide throughout the exercise as well, adding that it shows the value of the training they conducted throughout the year.
“We do practical training every month, but doing your jobs here, we get to see our real effect on everything,” said Spc. Bryce Fowler, a signal support systems specialist with the 234th SC. “And [we get to] see how well and capable we are at doing our jobs, like setting up [our equipment] in a timely fashion.”
And, according to Hanley, the feedback they have been receiving from the brigade has been great, adding that the praise the unit Soldiers have received has made them feel especially confident in the abilities they’ve developed thus far.
Which in turn should equate to an even more effective unit in the future… a future that will undoubtedly rest in great part on the communications lessons learned in Minnesota.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2015 11:18 |
| Story ID: | 168907 |
| Location: | CAMP RIPLEY, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 285 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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