Cavalry administration personnel break routine, enhance job skills

Photo By Sgt. Quentin Johnson | Pfc. August Jones, native of a New Orleans and a human resources clerk with the 3nd Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf,” 1st Cavalry Division, checks a cable connection leading to the Combat Service Support Very Small Aperture Terminal – a satellite communications system designed to provide data and voice communications connectivity, to include Wi-Fi up to a four-mile range with additional transponders – during training here Oct. 17. The training afforded all administrative personnel throughout Greywolf the opportunity to learn a system vital to sending and receiving reports and personnel actions, whether in field training or deployed, said Sgt. 1st Class David Coffelt, Greywolf’s administration noncommissioned officer in charge and organizer of the training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 3rd BCT PAO/Released)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

10.20.2014

Story by Sgt. Quentin Johnson 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf,” 1st Cavalry Division eased out of the office and took part in signal-type training here Oct. 16.

Approximately 24 Greywolf administrative supervisors and clerks came together for the first time to partake in training on the Combat Service Support Very Small Aperture Terminal, said Sgt. 1st Class David Coffelt, Greywolf’s administration noncommissioned officer in charge and organizer of the training.

The VSAT is a satellite communications system designed to provide data and voice communications connectivity, to include Wi-Fi up to a four-mile range with additional transponders, added Coffelt.

During an average week, an administrative office will process hundreds of personnel actions, requests and reports that require consistent network access, added Coffelt, who hails from Buffalo, New York.

Quick network access is even more vital when units are in the field or deployed, he added.

“If [Greywolf] attends the National Training Center in California, is deployed or training in the field connectivity is first priority,” said Coffelt.

During deployment, casualty reports become the main priority, which increases the need for a stable network connection, said Spc. Michael Walker, an administrative clerk with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Greywolf.

“Ensuring casualty reports are sent is critical, especially because of the time requirements involved with processing them,” said Walker, a Newton, Mississippi, native.

Additionally, the VSAT works as an independent network, said Walker.

“If the network needs to be shut down during an emergency, we can still use the VSAT network to send out the critical reports before it has to be shut down,” he said.

Quality connections and completing critical tasks only come from proper setup and installation of the VSAT.

“The average 20-minute set up is relatively simple with the most difficult part being learning to initialize the software,” added Coffelt. “Even with a few software setbacks during the training, accessing the network was easy to learn.”

Walker said the set up was pretty quick and can be done with only two to three Soldiers.

“I am confident I could set up the satellite and get it running if I was one of a few Soldiers at a field site,” said Walker.

Walker said he was thankful for the experience, gained a lot of knowledge, and overall had fun working with other administrative Soldiers from throughout the brigade.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2014
• Date Posted: 10.20.2014 15:03
• Story ID: 145516
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: BUFFALO, NY, US
• Hometown: NEWTON, MS, US