Photo By David Moore | Spc. John A. Pastor conitnues on the process of migrating computerrs to the U.S....... read more read more
While the footprint of U.S. forces inside the International Zone changes, the digital footprint is also experiencing a shift in technology between two forward operating bases.
The change, better known as a switchover, occurred March 24 when Joint Area Support Group - Central Soldiers from Forward Operating Base Prosperity turned off the switch to their tactical Web services provided by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and connected to the bigger U.S. Army Central Command domain.
"The way you have to think about this in business terms is the change now brings the FOB to a different command or to a corporate level with the backbone of service reaching all the way back to the United States," Staff Sgt. Jarod Gatson, non-commissioned officer in charge of the FOB Prosperity help desk from Joliet, Ill., said.
About two weeks before the switch was turned off to the tactical Web, the information management Soldiers received the first 40 of 400 computers and laptops to reimage hard drives, and started the migration to the larger command's backbone of service.
The machines being handled by the information management shop at FOB Prosperity affect nearly all the military tenant organizations at this International Zone location.
Miles of computer and power cords were strewn across the floor of the office in the Al Salam Palace and individual computer systems were placed on two eight-foot-long tables. Around-the-clock operations began and may continue into the future for additional service improvements.
While the seven computer technicians started the process for the changeover, they faced some early challenges along the way to reach the proper level of service for the computer users to communicate with the command network.
"Once we handled some of the issues such as those associated with the common access card readers, we were able to pick up the pace with the process," 1st Lt. Steven Brill, OIC of the Prosperity help desk and Ewing, N.J., resident, said.
Another changeover phase will be the completion of construction for the placement of fiber optic between FOBs Union III and Prosperity. Presently, services are received via a microwave line-of-sight shot. Once the fiber optic is in place, it is expected to terminate that system. This equipment is maintained by Company B, 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, out of Fort Lewis, Wash.
Brill said the fiber optic will replace the Joint Network Node, known as JNN, that operates from a satellite trailer and LOS shelter.
"Right now, we are using all the infrastructure of the former service to make this change work. Once the fiber optic is in place, the infrastructure components from the old will also be removed," Gatson said.
With the system changes at FOB Prosperity, one thing will not change - the JASG-C military personnel will likely continue to man the Prosperity Help Desk around the clock until the mission is complete.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2009 08:16 |
| Story ID: | 32707 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 500 |
| Downloads: | 420 |
This work, Joint Area Support Group - Central Soldiers Keep Connected, by David Moore, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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