DCM Gazette Issue #7

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

D C M G A Z ETTE

Issue No: 7

Serving DCM Troops and Families stationed in Naples, Italy

July- September 2006

FORTIS FLASH GERMANY 2006

by CPT Lan Dalat

ON GOING MISSIONS NTM-Iraq

SSG Pinnock ,SSG Wilson and SPC wood just recently returned from their tour of duty in Iraq. currently, SGT Capers, SGT Davis and SPC Dickenson are in theater performing their mission. Additionaly, three more soldiers will assume new roles for NTM-I.

ISAF Afghanistan

Front Row: (lf to rt) SSG (P) Andrew Castro, SSG Tom Rickert, SGT (P) Coretta Marshall, SPC Cesar Diaz, SGT Rashad Fisher, SGT (P) Van Huoch, SPC Adrian Kay Back Row: SGT Christopher McKenna, SGT Steve Ortiz, SFC Walter Twitty, SSG Raul Macias, SFC Wyatt Smith (LINC Chief), SPC Robert Biederman, SFC Samuel Morgan

JAVELIN BARRACKS, ELMPT, GERMANY -- The steadfast, reliable, and rapid communications soldiers from 2nd NATO Signal Battalion (2NSB) faced off with new challenges as they ventured into Germany where they installed, configured, and tested 2NSB's very first Limited Interim NATO Response Force (NRF) Communications Information System (CIS)

(LINC) system during the Fortis Flash Exercise that was held between 3 - 22 September 2006.

The chief of the LINC crew, SFC Wyatt Smith gladly accepted the responsibility to train his crew, to maintain the new equipment and to prepare for any deployment in support of NRF operations and exercises.

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HAIL & FAREWELL

This quarter, we bid farewell to our soldiers who had greatly contributed to the success of this unit. They are SSG Jamie Acosta, SGT Jason Himel, SPC Leo Bridgewater, SSG Miguel Rodriguez, SGT Kristal MacKall, SGT Paul Kruthoff, and SPC Miguel Muniz.

“First In, Last Out!”!!

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MSG Delemar Team Leader

Five-day notice to move notification arrived to a group of DCM soldiers from 2NSB was a reality. Within days, the selected soldiers packed their duffle bags, grabbed their weapons, bid farewell to their families and friends and headed off to Afghanistan.

From 19 April to 22 August 2006, SSG Peter Moulton, SGT Stephen McGowan and SPC Susan Buggell members of the 2NSB DCM supported Operation Joint Guardian at the Film City camp in Pristina, Kosovo

SSG Moulton TSGT Leader

We welcome the following personnel and their families to this DCM Family: MAJ Bradley Cullum, SGM Anna Gregory, MSG Martez Sims, SFC Thaddeus Lumar, SSG Anthony Cortright, SSG Cody Hand, SSG Richard Maday, SSG Jonathan McCray, SSG Taneka Perry, SSG Barry Ponce, (cont. on page 4) NATO UNCLASSIFIED! !

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

Commanders’ Notes DCM-A

DCM-C

COMMANDER’S CORNER

COMMANDER’S CORNER

Congratulations on your promotion.

AUG 2006 SFC Walter Twitty SEP 2006 SFC Alexander Gauna SSG Miguel Rodriguez SGT Francis English PV2 Joel Rodriguez OCT 2006 SSG Van Huoch SSG Coretta Marshall “First In, Last Out!”!!

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I would like to take this opportunity to say how excited I am to be working with DCM-C and all the personnd Bradley Cullum nel and their family members of 2 NATO Signal Battalion who make MAJ, SC this a great organization. In the past two months I have observed the operational tempo this unit is subjected to and have come to the understanding those who serve here in Naples are truly dedicated to the mission and are professional soldiers.

I have personally observed the technical competence of the LINC team during Steadfast Cathode and am confident this is the standard throughout the DCM and the Battalion.

I am joined by my wife Marlene and our three children; Jordan (daughter 6yrs), Noah (3yrs) and my youngest daughter Hannah (2yrs). I look forward to working with you and getting to know you and your families.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

STORK NEWS

It’s almost three years since I first joined DCM. This unit has changed so much in three years that it was difficult for me to phantom its reality.

Lan Dalat This DCM was transformed from a CPT, SC AFSOUTH J3 Exercise communication support unit to a highly respected worldwide deployable communications unit that could deliver secure voice, data and VTC within 24 hours of hitting the ground. This Joint DCM also transformed itself from a 38 troops strength to a full-blown DCM-A under the capable Signal Battalion that being commanded by a US Army Signaleer, LTC Bennie Pokemire. This unit performed missions worldwide ranging from the Balkans to the Mediterranean Sea, and from Iraq to Afghanistan. We also supported exercises in Northern Africa, out at sea on an aircraft carrier, in the Black Sea, in Germany, in Spain, and now in Turkey. We have sent our technicians to Moscow, to London, to Athens, to Madrid and to many other places. Now, with the newly acquired LINC equipment, this DCM will push our borders even further.

DCM is an Adventure! “FIRST IN, LAST OUT!”

Congratulations to the new parents:

SGT & Mrs. Weston Goodwin have a baby boy on 17 Sept. 2006. He weigh in at 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long SGT & Mrs. Richard Heatherly have a baby girl on 27 September 2006. She weigh in at 8 lbs 6 oz and 20 inches long.

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

LIMITED INTERIM NRF CAPABILITY (LINC) building on wheels.

Written & Photo by CPT Lan Dalat

reach back capability from anywhere in the world. The DSGT was programmed to transmit and receive at 512 Kbs instead of 2048 Kbs like its larger predecessor Triband Satellite Ground Terminal (TSGT).

Out of the box, LINC systems were categorized in two configurations.

Major Point of PresThe unique characteristic of ence (PoP) LINC Two tents join together as part of the LINC is modularity and scalLINC 07 equipment; Fiat Ducato cargo and Minor PoP LINC. The ability. Like Lego's building !an; Servers insta"ed in TCC major PoP was designed to support bricks, LINC could be a Deployed Joint Task Force built and config(DJTF) with an approximate of 125 INC is NATO’s deployable ured to support users. The minor PoP was intended communications system that the dyfor a smaller element of 25 users serves as the gap filler for namic operates outside of the DJTF footthe legacy Communications changes print but had requirements to report Gateway System (CGS) and the within and to share information with the modern User Interface Equipment NRF opDJTF staff.

(UIE) which is a part of the erations. It Capability Package 0A 0149 could be Along with its smaller foot(CP149). reconfigprint, the bandwidth for the LINC Figure 1. the DSGT in ured to reduced significantly. The Deployincrease or Tx/Rx configuration.

Unlike the legacy CGS or able Satellite Ground Terminal decrease the over equipped UIE, the LINC (DSGT) (See figure 1).played a the number of telephones and comwas designed with modularity and critical role for the LINC to have puters requiredeployability in ments. Even mind. Just like though LINC the CP149's Inmaintained an formation SysInterim status tem Module within NATO, its (ISM), all of the success will trigservers used in ger changes for the system are the future develcommercial-offopment of dethe-shelf (COTS) ployable comequipment. In munications contrast, the technology.

LINC servers are rack mounted 01100101 inside portable 01101110 aluminum shock 01100100 proof Transportable CIS Cases Figure 2. LINC equipment setup inside tent (TCC) while the ISM is a

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“First In, Last Out!”!!

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

DCM Troops in Action orld W e h t d n u Aro

SSG Peter Moulton (TSGT Team Leader)(right), SFC Edward Wuepper (3rd from left) and SPC Susan Buggell (2nd from left) share a moment with their colleague at Film City, Pristina, Kosovo between 19 April through 22 August 2006 in support COMKFOR. SSG Derek Gunn represents 2NSB as the senior technician during the final NATO Russia Communication Exercise AAR in Moscow, Russia between July 10 - 14 2006

SSG Richard Wilson (right) and Mr. Jawad work together on an IT project at the NATO HQ in Al Rustamiyah, Iraq “First In, Last Out!”!!

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SGT Robert Downing serves as the System Administrator for more than 42 servers on three separate network that provided secure data exchange for the ISAF and NATO staff in Afghanistan.

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

SGT Ortiz (left) and SGT Fisher prepare to unload one of the LINC vans full of communications equipment at Javelin Barracks, Germany during 2NSB Fortis Flash Exercise 2006

The LINC 03 crew unloads TCCs from one of the three Fiat Ducato cargo vans in Elmpt, Germany.

SSG Macias (left) and SSG Castro carry the 1.5 Kva uninterupted power supply (UPS) into the tent during the setup phase of LINC 03 which is a Major Point of Presence communication equipment.

SGT McKenna places the 3.0 Kva UPS in the tent as part of the initial setup to determine space and security management.

SFC Frederick Clayton checks his watch to ensure the formation is formed prior to the promotion ceremony in front of building I2 at JFC Naples, Bagnoli, Italy.

Coretta Marshall stands tall and proud as her husband places the hooked Staff Sergeant rank on her new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in Naples, Italy.

“First In, Last Out!”!!

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

ACHIEVEMENTS

RECOGNITIONS

NCO / SOLDIER OF THE QUARTER

For their outstanding mission support, the following personnel has been awarded Defense Medals SSG Peter Moulton DMSM SGT Stephen McGowan JSCM SPC Susan Buggel, JSCM SFC Donald Chausse JSAM SFC Edward Wuepper JSAM

SGT Richard Heatherly (25L20) has been selected as the NCO of the Quarter for A Company, US Army NATO Regional Command South Battalion in Naples, Italy.

SPC Daniel Castillo (25R10) was selected as the Soldier of the Quarter for A Co. US Army NATO Regional Command South Battalion in Naples, Italy Great job on achieving the Good Conduct Medal

SSG Kristal McKall SGT Berndette Langford SGT Patrick Davis SGT Gerald Jeffcoat SPC Susan Buggell SPC Robert Biederman SPC Jesus Deleon SPC George Wood SPC Charlotte Cluff

Thank you for the job well done!

The Chief of Signal from the Russian Federation awarded SPC Robert Biederman and SPC Brendan Howard for their outstanding technical support to the Russian Forces during NATO - Russia Commex 06 in Baumholder, Germany

SPECIAL THANKS TO AN OUTSTANDING LEADER

SSG Ronnie Grubbs

Thank you for your hardwork, genuin# dedication, compassionate and re$n# leadership to ensure your troops are car# for and mission accomplishment. W# %i" miss your work ethic and commi&' ment to this unit.

Best wishes to you and your family!

New Personnel (Cont. from the front page) SGT Robert Blihovde, SGT Christopher Conyers, SGT Jessie Darrett, SGT Damion Fugate, SGT David Goode, SGT Richard Heatherly, SGT Timothy Jennings, SGT Kendra Mascoll, SGT Raphiel McCormick, SGT Jorge Ramos, SGT Daniel Sheffield, SPC Diana Delgadillo and SPC Elizabeth Waggoneer

Benvenuti a Bella Napoli!

“First In, Last Out!”!!

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

FORTIS FLASH GERMANY

UPCOMING EVENTS

(Cont. )om the Front Page*

OCT 06:

by CPT Lan Dala& ceived individual training on equipment associated to their MOS. There The LINC crew comprised of 14 soldiers in various specialties. Three sol- were individual courses that tailored to each of the following LINC equipdiers with satellite transmission skill ment: Promina 400, a Bandwidth were selected to operate the DeployManagement Equipment able Satellite Ground Ter(BME); Siemen HiPath, a Pubminal (DSGT). Three sollic Automated Branch Exdiers with telecommunicachange (PABX); RAD motion specialties were sedems; Telenor's Deployable lected to install and configSatellite Ground Terminal ure the Bandwidth Man(DSGT); HP servers; Airshelter agement Equipment (BME) tents; Air conditioning system and Public Automated and other associated equipment Branch Exchange (PABX). to make the LINC fully operaFour soldiers with computer tional. automation skill were SFC Wyatt Smith tasked to train and operate LINC 03 Chief Upon completion of their arthe servers and some autoduous individual training promation help desk operagram, SFC Smith put the crew to the tions. One soldier was chosen to fabtest.

Between 11 and 17 September ricate and install cable infrastructure 2006, 14 soldiers deployed together as for the LINC. One soldier with backa LINC crew to the former Royal Air ground in Communication Security Force's airfield on the northeastern was identified to handle all Cryptoside of Javelin Barracks in Germany. Prior to midday, the crew inflated their Airshelter tents on a flat tarmac surface, tiled the floors with plastic snap-on tiles, and installed the air conditioning system. In the afternoon, the LINC crew worked in a concerted effort to manually move the entire commercial off the shelf (COTS) communications equipment that was inBME/PABX equipment stalled inside a ruggedized and shock proof aluminum transit case inside the tent with an average graphic equipment with an alternate weight of 50 Kg each. According to a responsibility as the Video TelecomNATO Unclassified document, these munications (VTC) technician. Ficases are formerly known as Transnally, one soldier served as the power portable CIS Cases (TCC). By sunset, generator mechanic. the LINC crew erected two tents, rearranged the TCCs several Along with 2NSB staff, SFC Smith times to meet Information Sedeveloped a schedule for his crew to curity guideline and J2's seperform while deployed away from curity directives. For the their home station in Naples, Italy. next several days, the crew During the first week, the crew recontinued to fine-tune their “First In, Last Out!�!!

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TACSAT Install / Transfer, Naples, IT Steadfast Cathode, Istanbul, TU NOV 06: Steadfast JAW, Istanbul, TU TACSAT Transfer, Scotland DEC 06: LINC 03 and LINC 07 Training TACSAT DAMA Fielding and Training

LINC configurations with proper power requirements, Communications

Transportable CIS Case (TCC)

Security (COMSEC) requirements, and technical requirements.

At the same time, the crew drafted their initial standard operating procedures (SOP) and lessons learned.

At the end of each day, SFC Smith gathered all of his soldiers for an after action review (AAR). They used the forum to capture all positive and negative encounters during their LINC installation.

On 18 September 2006, with much anticipation and preparation, the LINC began to transmit their beacons into the NATO Core Network (NCN).

DSGT's section leader, SSG Andrew Castro established connection through his DSGT to a designated (Cont. on Page 8)

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DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

FORTIS FLASH GERMANY services through their Siemen Hi(Cont. from page 7) Path, the Information System crew

precision and accuracies, the soldiers met their objectives by successfully tested voice communications and information exchange services using their newly assigned LINC 03 that was designed to support a major point of presence such as the Deployed Joint Task Force (DJTF).

made few final configurations on their domain servers. They had not yet connected to the network but anticipated the task with minimum difficulties. As it turned out, the crew did not administrative rights for the system. This ceased progress for the LINC Crew. The

NATO strategic satellite ground terminal (SGT). At first, they were able to have satellite access but unable to have nodal connectivity.

The DSGT crew worked long hours to reconfigure their modem settings, and troubleshoot their downlink and up-link settings. Through hard work and dedication, the DSGT finally established satellite linkage with the SGT via the consortium X-band satellite. Immediately, their counterpart, the BME section kicked into high gear with great determination to have nodal connectivity with NCN. Now, it was the battle that the BME/PABX crew had to fight.

They fought hard and won. By the end of the first day, they connected their BME to NCN for FORTIS FLASH Exercise. While the Communications crew providing voice

After receiving orders from their commander to end the exercise (ENDEX), the LINC crew called SHAPE network control center to request for links closure authorization. On the evening of 21 September, the crew deinstalled all CIS equipment and packed them into their three assigned Fiat Ducato 4x4 cargo vans. SFC Smith and his crew returned to their home station in Naples, Italy only to get ready for their next deployment to Istanbul, Turkey in support of Steadfast Cathode Exercise.

LINC 03 at Javelin Barracks, Germany

problem was raised up to SHAPE. Within two days, the LINC obtained proper admin rights with the helps from the battalion commander and his staff. They connected their servers to NATO Information System Gateway at predetermined servers in Italy. With

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ACTION IN IRAQ (NTM-I) SSG Richard Wilson and SPC George Wood provided over 4,000 hours of uninterrupted email and radio communications to the NTMI FWD HQ, JSC, and Satellite facilities on FOB Al Rustamiyah.

In addition, they served as Training Cadre to a Joint Staff College Command Post Exercise (CPX), where they worked with Iraqi personnel to solve end user IT problems and provided backbone communications at the DIV, BRIG, and BDE levels “First In, Last Out!�!!

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SSG Wilson also supervised the installation of a project to renovate the entire NTMIFWD at Al Rustamiyah. The overhaul include all IT infrastructure, all new servers, switches, routers, phone systems, and satellite communications system.

The team troubleshot and supported over 400 end user machines, while providing 4,000 hours of up time during their tenure. !

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SSG Richard Wilson (right) and SPC George Wood (left) join an Italian colleague for a photo at the NATO Headquarters in Al Rustamiyah, Iraq

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