DCM Gazette Issue 4

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

D C M G A Z ETTE Issue No: 4

Serving DCM Troops and Families stationed in Naples, Italy

October - December 2005

ISM/COM Demo !Fortis Flash"

ON GOING MISSIONS

Grazzanise, Italy

NTM-I Mission In continuing effort to support NATO’s mission in Iraq, DCM-A troops continue to rotate into Iraq.

TSgt. Glover and IT2 Brandt retur! #om Iraq on 18 Dec 05 Currently, there are three staff sergeants represent DCM-A, 2NSB in Iraq at this time. They are SSG Grimaldo SSG Gauna, and SSG White.

DCM troops pose for photo with 2NSB Battalion Commander at the end of the demo!" stration in Grazzanise, Italy on 15 Dec 2005.

I

n the middle of the buffalo country northwest region of the greater area Naples, DCM troops from 2nd NATO Signal Battalion rolled their newly issued communications equipment known as CP149 or Deployable Communications Information System

(DCIS) into Grazzanise Air Base for a two weeks test and demonstration.

The newly acquired Information System Module (ISM) and the Communications Module (COM) (Continues on Page 8)

HAIL & FAREWELL During this quarter we bid farewell to Sr A Renfro, IT3 Dilone and SK1 David.

We welcomed the following personnel and their families: SGT Dwayne Lambert, SPC Adrian Kay, SSG Roy Gunn, SGT Gerald Je$coat, SPC Robert Biederman, SPC George Wood, SFC Wyatt Smith, SSG Michelle Williams, SGT Alicia Pena, SGT Stephen “First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

!

On 8 December 2005, four DCM-A Troops joined IT2 Hiller in Kabul, Afghanistan to support the International Security Assistant Force (ISAF) Signal Support Group (SSG). SSG Macias, IT1 Veney, SGT Pena, SPC Crispin, and will serve their four month tour with ISAF before returning back to Naples. Italy

McGowan, SGT Oscar Jessup, SSG Michael Wing, SPC Sunijiah Joel, PFC Adrian Sperlich, SSG Jason Hasselius, SPC Jesus Deleon, SGT Lance West, SGT Jason Himel, SSG Kenneth Nesbitt, SSG Lorenzo Taylor, SPC Caesar Diaz, SFC Edward Wuepper, SPC Susan Buggell, SGT Robert Downing, and SSG Steve Ortiz.

Benvenuti di Bella Napoli!

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 1

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

support the ongoing Operation Active Endeavour in Izmir, Turkey. Four troops from the LOS section deployed to install and deinstall TACSAT equipment aboard NATO vessels.

Meanwhile back in Naples, we prepared ourselves for the first ever communications capability demonstration of the CP149. At the beginning of December 05, we went out to Grazzanise and conducted our demonstration. It was not easy but we learned a lot in the process of setting up these new communications equipment. Our team worked hard with genuine efforts to accomplish the mission. Prior to the holiday season, we sent a team of five troops to support ISAF in Afghanistan and welcomed home two sailors and an airman from Baghdad, Iraq after their tour with NTM-I. As a soldier assigned to this fine unit, I’m proud to be a member of this elite team. Most of all, I’m honored to serve as your commander. I’m looking forward to another exciting year in 2006.

Thank you very much for your contributions to the unit’s success. Minnie and I wish that you and your family have had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

COMMANDER%S CORNER Lan Dalat, Captain US Army Signal Corps

Upon returning from a month long deployment in San Clemente, Spain, some of us started this quarter with the 10 kilometer run up Mount Vesuvius that was organized by the UK Forces.

However, the challenge did not stop at the top of the active volcano. The DCM’s fast pace continued as the unit received our Warning Orders for fiveday notice-to-move (NTM) to Pakistan in support of Operation Swift Relief. Then, we received FRAGOs to send a team of five to Afghanistan for ISAF mission and a team of three to NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I). On top of all these requirements, we would still have to carry out the ISM/COM demonstration. With much relief to DCM troops at 2NSB, Operation Swift Relief (OSR) is to be manned only by 1NSB troops. Although we received the stand down on OSR, the 5-day NTM orders still stand.

Before the dusts of excitement settle, we received a mission to

SERGEANT MAJOR%S CORNER

ACU FIELDING 17 JAN 06

Timothy Vester, Sergeant Major, US Army Signal Corps

Selected personnel For NTM-I and ISAF rotations from DCM-A, 2NSB will get their ACUs issued in Heidelberg, Germany on 17 January 2006.

Cold Weather Gear

CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations on newly promoted personnel.

“First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

STORK NEWS

SFC Jennifer McKay SFC Edward Wuepper IT2 Kenneth Hebenstriet ET2 Patrick Kramer SGT Paul Kruthoff SGT Alica Pena

!

Congratulations to SGM and Mrs. Timothy Vester on your new son Zachary James Vester who was born on 13 Nov 05 in the United States

Combat Equipment

***NOTE*** Soldier may get issued items displayed above NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 2

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

LIMITED INTERIM NRF CIS &LINC' SAP BY CPT LAN DALAT

NATO to deploy its communication assets to the theatre of operations.

With that requirement, NATO Communication Information System (CIS) Services Agency (NCSA) takes on the challenge of acquiring the capabilities for the NRF to communicate with its peacetime headquarters and other component commands such as Land Component Command (LCC), Air Component Command (ACC) or Maritime Component Command (MCC) from their deployed locations around the world.

cluster that includes one communications (COM) shelter and several auxiliary networking equipment.

One servers expandable van called the Information System Module (ISM) is included in the MCM package. To extend communications services to other remote command posts, the MCM also comes with a set of line-of-sight (LOS) radio equipment.

However, some components of the MCM are not yet fielded to DCM troops at this time due to manufactures completion timeline. To bridge the gap between legacy In this current phase, NCSA has communications gateway system placed the acquisition for the future (CGS) to the new CP0A0149,

Top: TSGT, UIE and ISM occupy a parking lot at Grazzanise Air Bas$ Bottom: O15X is situated in the for$" ground of the CGS"5 in San Clemente, Spai!

MLPP VOICE

T

he ability for NATO Response Force (NRF) to have reliable secure communications anywhere on earth remains to be a challenge. Historically, NATO does not deploy its headquarters from peacetime locations. However, NATO has changed its missions and along with those changes are new requirements to have robust secure communications around the world at any given time.

VOICE

BME

!

!

PABX V.11 Nx64 G.703 E1/E1 Frac.

ISDN BRI

IP DATA TDM

MANAGEMENT SECURE VOICE

NSIE

SECURE IP DATA

NICE

USER-INTERFACE

SAR SECURE TDM

In recent history, NATO forces have involved in many operations to include missions in Kosovo and Bosnia. More recently, NATO troops are operating in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan in support of the International Security Assistant Force (ISAF), NATO Training Mission – Iraq (NTM-I) and humanitarian mission code named Operation Swift Relief (OSR) respectively.

All of these operations require “First In, Last Out!”!!

MLPP add-on

ANCILLARY (PS/UPS, CABLING, ETC.)

BULK

Figure 1. Block diagram of a full-scale PoP communication system designated as capability package CP0A0149 or more commonly known by DCM troops as the Mobile Communications Module (MCM). The MCM comprised of a Transportable Satellite Ground Terminal (TSGT), a User Interface Equipment (UIE) !

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

NCSA acquires the Stand Alone Project (SAP) CM03057 designated as the Limited Interim NRF CIS (LINC) to ensure the NRF would have Full Operational Capability (FOC) during deployments.

Continues on page 6 !

!

!

!

Page 3

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

DCM-A TROOPS y l a t I , e s i n a z z a r Action in G

SSG Nesbitt pumps diesel fuel into 5 ga%on cans to refuel the TSGT.

SPC Biederman helps secur$ the swing beam of the ISM shelter.

SPC Kay insta%s cables inside the O&ce Module.

SPC DeLeon pu%s th$ barbed wire to secure th$ area of the MCM.

PFC Sperlich manua%y turns the hand crank to elevate th$ TSGT dish.

SGT Houch works with an Italian co%eague during the setup phase.

SSG Grubbs tosses a ro% of cable to IT3 Hebenstreit to establish inter"shelter connectivity.

DCM troops relaxes on top of the shelters.

SSG Acosta works with battalion engineer to trou" bleshoot the lin( SSG Cha'n calibrates the antenna for the TSGT

Note: Read related story on the front page of this Gazette.

“First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

!

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 4

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

More images from DCM-A in this quarter.

SPC Biederman pu%s security next to an HMMWV during a convoy movement training at IDT, Chrieves Army Base, Belgiu)

SPC Wood searches under a vehicle using mirror during his IDT training in Belgium.

On Sunday 18 Dec 05, IT3 Smith receives a welcome return as h$ and his buddies IT2 Brandt and TSgt. Glover 'nished their rota" tion in Baghdad, Iraq.

DCM Troops and family members get ready for the start of the 10Km run up Mount Vesuvius that is hosted by the UK Forces in Naples, Italy

SGT Joseph Piazza, 25S20 takes the Oath of Re"enlistment #o) LTC Deborah Stuart, Battalion Commander US Army NATO Command South, Naples, Italy

SFC Edward Wuepper receives his new rank #om LTC Stuar* and CSM Rodriguez on 30 December 2005 in#ont of fe%ow DCM troops

“First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

!

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 5

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

LINC (SAP)

lenges ranging from limited bandwidth for VTC transmission to lack

by CPT Lan Dalat (Cont. from page 3) of training support for technicians due to the use of mostly commerLINC capability is divided into two cial off the shelf (COTS) communications equipment. Additionally, categories: Major Point of Presence (PoP) and Minor PoP. A Ma- COTS may not endure long duration in the open or in dusty field jor PoP is capable of providing environments. communication services that include non-secure telephone, secure Each LINC is constructed by a set telephone, unclassified data netof well-defined building blocks that work, secret data network and secure video-teleconferencing (VTC) include multiple transmission to about 125 users, an average size equipment to interface with the bandwidth management equipment, of a Deployed Joint Task Force (DJTF) headquarters. The Minor which connects to NATO certified PoP can provide CIS services to 25 routing technology and then to the users of the LCC or various PODs. data processing servers. Between LINC does come with a set of chal- the servers and the routers, NATO crypto is installed to ensure com-

munications are secure on both ends of the transmission. All of these components are packaged and installed on several 19 inches rack that resides inside a shockproof gas tight lightweight aluminum transit cases.

These LINC transit cases can be loaded into a commercial van that can be rolled into a C-130 aircraft for rapid deployments. Otherwise, they can be checked in as excess baggage at a commercial airport.

With this new solution, DCM troops eager for deployments to practice their trades in exercises or in real world operations.

Not all of you will start at station one.” US Navy Commander Douglas announced during the brief introduction to all participant in the theatre. s a Soldier, Sailor or an Airman assigned to Inside the theater, DCM troops received nd DCM-A, 2 NATO Signal Battalion, everyvaluable training from the experts in many areas of one is aware of his/her five-day notice to specialties ranging from Law of move readiness requireWar to Equal Opportunity in ment. Between 2nd and 3rd the work place. They also reof November 2005, all asceived valuable training from signed service members the Public Affairs office and from all over Naples, Italy the American Red Cross. attended the annual SolAt the stations, they were able diers! Readiness Program to get their medical and dental (SRP) hosted by the comscreened by doctors. Some of bined efforts of the US nathe troops received Hepatitis B tional elements at Capodiwhile everyone received flu chino Naval Support Base, shots. As for administrative Italy. readiness, DCM Troops reAlong with all other viewed their military records US personnel assigned to DCM Troops receive the annual SRP brief a* and renew their wills and the area, DCM troops were Capo Theater, Naval Support Base, Italy. power of attorney. Some soldivided into two groups to diers ordered new prescription pursue the same objective, eyeglasses inserts for their protective masks while getting ready for deployment. Designated by the some ordered another set of identification tags.

SRP committee, all personnel with the last name The two-day event was a major success for that begins with A through K started their preunit!s deployment readiness. As it says in the soldeployment training inside the base!s movie theadier!s creed, “I stand ready to deploy…” the DCM tre. The remaining group went to their perspective troops are ready for any deployment in support of stations ranging from Medical to Finance. “For any NATO missions. “Any where, any time.” those of you who play golf, this is a shot gun start.

SOLDIERS’ READINESS PROGRAM (SRP)

A

“First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

!

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 6

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

RECOGNITIONS

SGT Goodwi!

Congratulations to SGM Timothy Vester, SGT Joshua Brandt and SGT Weston Goodwin on their Combat Action Badge (CAB) awards for their actions in Iraq while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Both SGT Brandt and SGT Goodwin came to DCM-A from 125th Signal Battalion,

AWARD ELIGIBILITY: The

25th Infantry (Light) Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. SGM Vester was assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. North Carolina.

On 2 May 2005, the Chief of Staff, Army, approved the creation of the CAB to provide special recognition to soldiers who personally engage, or are engaged by the enemy. HQDA Letter 600-05-1, dated 3 June 2005, announced the establishment of the Combat Action Badge. "

would qualify the soldier for the CIB/ CMB. " a. May be awarded to any " (3) May be awarded to soldier. members from the other U.S. Armed " b. Soldier must be performForces and foreign soldiers asing assigned duties in an area signed to a U.S. Army unit, provided where hostile fire pay or imminent they meet the danger pay is above criteria. authorized. " c. Soldier must be personally (4) Award of the present and acCAB is authorized tively engaging or from 18 September being engaged by 2001 to a date to the enemy, and be determined. performing satisAward for qualifying factorily in accorservice in any predance with the vious conflict is not prescribed rules of SGT Brandt conducts mounted patrol authorized. in Kirkuk, Iraq with 5th Group SF. engagement.

For more information " d. Soldier must not be visit assigned/attached to a unit that http://www.army.mil/symbols/combat badges/.

Combat Action Badge (CAB) may be awarded by any commander delegated authority by the Secretary of the Army during wartime or the CG, U.S. Army Human Resources Command and will be announced in permanent orders. " (1) The requirements for award of the CAB are Branch and MOS immaterial. Assignment to a Combat Arms unit or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations, or performing offensive combat operations is not required to qualify for the CAB. However, it is not intended to award all soldiers who serve in a combat zone or imminent danger area. " (2) Specific Eligibility Requirements:

INDIVIDUAL DEPLOYMENT TRAINING

Chièvres Air Base, Belgium

B

ase on the guidance of GEN B B Bell, all US military personnel deploying into the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations will required to have pre-deployment training. The intent for this training is to save life of soldiers and to better preparing them for the combat zones. US Army NATO established the one week training program and offered the courses to all military personnel assigned to a NATO post. Due to a high operational requirement, DCM-A troops are being placed in front of the line to take these IDT courses. So far, more than 70 percent of DCM-A, 2NSB troops received the IDT training which will allowed them to deployed into Iraq and Afghanistan. The training is valid for 12 months.

“First In, Last Out!”!!

!

!

!

SSG +P, li-s SPC Wood.s simulated leg wound above his hear* to prevent shock in"#ont of an IDT cadre.

NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

!

!

!

!

Page 7

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE #ALPHA, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“FORTIS FLASH” (Cont. from Page 1) to the NATO core network (NCN) for the first time since its acceptance by the NC3A. Based on the guidance from the NATO CIS Services Agency (NCSA) director, the equipment should be tested and assessed for possible deployment in support of NATO Response Force (NRF).

On the 7th of December, DCM troops occupied a large parking lot at the air base with the state-of-the-art communications equipment after a short convoy from Naples. The equipment is immediately staged in a pre-defined configuration established by the planning team. For the first time, the Main Communications Module (MCM) is deployed with the borrowed Office Modules (OM) provided by Strikeforce NATO. Unlike previous deployments, the MCM’s

components were setup in a side-byside configuration instead of cluster configuration used by the Communications Gateway System (CGS-5).

Upon completion of establishing the communications footprint, the troops erected the triple-strand concertina wires around its perimeter with a cipher-locked door to establish a controlled access area.

This area was declared as Class II area by 2NSB S6.

Upcoming Calendar Jan 06: TACSAT Install/De-install Antenna DEMO COMSEC Workshop Feb 06: DLOS training Mar 06: NTM-I Rotation

Between 8-16 of December, DCM technicians worked arduous long hours with 2NSB and SHAPE communications engineers to establish the links between the tactical equipment to NATO Core Network.

ISAF Rotation

Although some services were not fully functioned, the payoff for this was the lessons learned and the experience that everyone acquired during the two-week field communications exercise.

Cooperative Endeavor Exercise

Commander DCM-A, 2NSB, Naples, Italy PSC 813 BOX 181 FPO AE 09620

ADDRESS LABEL

!FIRST IN LAST OUT!"

Apr 06: NTM-I Rotation ISAF Rotation Fortis Flash COMEX May 06: Russian-NATO COMEX Jun 06: Steadfast Jaguar (NRF) Exercise