17 Iraqi students graduate first Spectrum Management Course

Photo By Sgt. Breeanna Pierce | Iraqi army Brig. Gen. Gazi Alrubai, director of training for the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate General of Communications, discusses the importance of communications training with U.S. Air Force Col. Tina Harvey, director of United States Forces-Iraq’s Iraqi Communications Capacity Engagement Office, and U.S. Navy Capt. Hank Bond, director of USF-I’s J6 Communications Directorate, before attending a graduation ceremony for the first spectrum management course at the MoD’s Ministerial Developmental and Training Center here April 21.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.30.2011

Story by Spc. Breeanna Pierce 

United States Forces – Iraq, Deputy Commanding General (Advising and Training)

BAGHDAD – Seventeen Iraqi students graduated from the first Spectrum Management Course at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s Ministerial Developmental and Training Center here April 21.

Spectrum management refers to the regulation and organization of different communication technologies – such as radio, Internet and telephone – into their own specific frequencies to avoid interference and ensure seamless communication.

Created with the intent of being a train-the-trainer course, the training began in January and was designed to give Iraqi students from ministries across the government of Iraq a solid understanding of the communication spectrum system, similar to the one used in the United States, said U.S. Marine 1st. Lt. Adam R. Hine, a plans and policy advisor for the United States Forces-Iraq’s Iraqi Communications Capacity Engagement office.

Throughout the 12-week course, the students became familiar with the communication spectrum, which organizes many different communications platforms into specific frequencies.

The system allows for communications to run smoothly and securely. However, like most systems, the spectrum needs to be closely monitored.

“You can only communicate on so many frequencies and [the system] has to be regulated to avoid communications from interfering with each other,” said Hine, who is deployed from the U.S. Marine Corps’ 7th Communications Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.

The spectrum is a very complex system and it is very impressive for the school to have such an advanced course like spectrum management, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Dzienny, deputy director of USF-I’s ICCE Office, and a native of Toledo, Ohio.

“Where the Iraqi Army, Navy and Air Force are going in communication is to the next level,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Hank Bond, director of USF-I’s J-6 Communications Directorate. “This school, and the focus on spectrum management, shows the United States that you are becoming experts in a broad part of complex communications.”

As they continue to develop and acquire communications technology, having a spectrum-management division will help avoid future communication issues by ensuring different technologies do not interfere with each other, Hine said.

“As I look to the future, I am very pleased to see that the [United States] and Iraq will become partners as we support our mutual interest of security,” Bond said.

• Date Taken: 04.30.2011
• Date Posted: 04.30.2011 06:27
• Story ID: 69613
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ