The Go-To Soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Ann Marie Laroque, a North Brunswick, N.J. native, and communications officer...... read more read more

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Ann Marie Laroque, a North Brunswick, N.J. native, and communications officer with the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, congratulates Spc. Jacob Dover, a native of Cabot, Ark. and signal support systems specialist with Company G, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, for a job well done. Spc. Dover and several other G Co., 39th BSB, Soldiers designed, fabricated and installed three repeater networks allowing the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade to extend their air operations coverage network from the northern Iraq border to Kuwait.  see less | View Image Page

TAJI, IRAQ

11.16.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade

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By 1st Lt. Patricia Wakefield
1st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Every unit has a group of Soldiers that a commander can count on to get any mission done. A group of these "Go-To" Soldiers can be found in Headquarters Platoon, Company G, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, which is currently deployed to Taji, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Jeff Boehm, a native of Dover, Ark., and the platoon sergeant for Headquarters Platoon, G Co., 39th BSB; Staff Sgt. Bryan McDonel, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the communications shop; Staff Sgt. Billy Bradford, a Siloam Springs, Ark., native, and network switching systems operator-maintainer, and Spc. Jacob Dover, a Cabot, Ark., native, and signal support systems specialist with G Co., 39th BSB, fill this bill to a tee.

Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, one issue that plagued convoy security operations was limited or disrupted communications.

When traveling over extended distances or in areas with tall buildings and a limited line of sight, convoy security escort vehicles often lost the ability to communicate from the front vehicle to the rear vehicle.

As the length of a convoy increased, communications capabilities began to degrade, radio transmissions began to weaken and there was a threat of losing pertinent data. The communications shop of G Co., 39th BSB, came up with a solution to this problem by creating a Re-Trans system, which works by tying the convoy's primary and alternate networks together.

With the installation of the new system, communication with convoys was extended and, in some cases, more than doubled depending on the time of day, terrain, and structures.

Although the installation of the Re-Trans system only took a few hours, the part of this plan that took the longest was the fabrication and welding of the antenna mount required to hold the two additional antennas needed to make the system operational.

"The Re-Trans is instrumental in reaching out to the company's [Tactical Operations Center]. It's a good system," said Staff Sgt. Ricky Carr, a Morrilton, Ark., native, and convoy security patrol leader, who says the system allows him to talk to who he has to talk to, when he needs to talk to them.

There have been many benefits because of the Re-Trans system. The range for communications prior to the installation of the Re-Trans was three miles from the Company Operations Center. Once the system was emplaced, the COC could maintain communication with convoys up to 25 miles from the base.

Due to its innovativeness, information on the Re-Trans system was forwarded to the Army's Center of Lessons Learned so it could be shared with other units.

McDonel, a Pine Bluff, Ark., native, credits his father Master Sgt. Mike McDonel, with his work ethic and extensive knowledge of Army communications. Master Sgt. McDonel, who is also currently deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, used to take his son to drill with him and let him play with communications equipment.

"[My father] instilled the importance of communication. If people can't talk, the mission can't be accomplished," stated Staff Sgt. McDonel.

When the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, was looking for a way to extend their air operations coverage from Kuwait to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, G Co.'s "Go-To" Soldiers stepped up to the challenge once again.

The 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., sought the assistance of Camp Taji Mayor's Cell communications section. After discussing the design, development, installation, and system requirements, G Co.'s communications section was contacted.

Through the hard work of McDonel, Boehm, Bradford, and Dover, an "antenna nest" was designed, fabricated, welded and made operational within 24 hours.

As a result of these four Soldiers' great effort and ingenuity, the 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., is fully operational on its medical evacuation flights, flight operations, and attack operations repeater networks from Kuwait to Joint Base Balad.

The aviation brigade was so impressed with the Soldiers of G Co. that it did not look any further in order to complete its next objective – to improve radio communications on an additional eight radio networks from the brigade operations center located at Camp Taji.

The "Go-To" Soldiers created another antenna nest like the first one and gave it to the brigade. This antenna nest replaced old, outdated antennas and immediately improved the command and control of the brigade's aircraft in and around the Baghdad area.

During a presentation, Sept. 5, at G Co.'s area of operation, Maj. Ann Marie Laroque, a North Brunswick, N.J., native, and the officer in charge of the communications shop for the 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., presented the "Go-to" Soldiers with a Brigade Coin of Excellence for their demonstrated excellence and their dedication to duty.

To date, Boehm, Bradford, Dover, and McDonel have produced six mobile Re-Trans systems and three fixed stations, which have greatly enhanced the company's mission success and accomplishments as well as those of many other units.

Besides building Re-Trans systems, they have provided communications support and training to other units, including units of the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, and the 101st Airborne Division.

"What these guys have done here is phenomenal, they have set the standard and blueprint on how commo should be for every company that rolls outside the wire," said Cpt. Lyn Alexander, a Russellville, Ark., native, and the commander of G Co., 39th BSB, with a smile on his face.

"It has been great getting to work with these NCOs. I've learned a lot not only about my job, but about being in the military in general," said Dover.