Soldiers gain easier access to family, friends

Courtesy Photo | Army Sgt 1st Class Daren Brekke, Task Force Pacemaker, is able to chat with his family in the convenience of his room because of the civilian Internet services at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan.  

AFGHANISTAN

03.06.2008

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Capt. Russell S. Cunningham
Combined Joint Task Force - 82

Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan - One of the many challenges faced by deployed Soldiers is the ability to stay involved in the lives of their loved ones.

Starting in April of 2007, Task Force Pacemaker communication specialists helped Soldiers overcome this major challenge by providing civilian Internet in their quarters.

With an ever-expanding population here, the existing Morale, Welfare, and Recreation system has not been sufficient to accommodate Soldiers without long-wait times and minimal actual time on the system. Many times, Soldiers would stay up late waiting to use the phone and end up cutting into their sleep, thereby affecting their work.

According to M. Sami Hashimi, CEO of Internet service provider AFSAT, many units throughout Afghanistan have turned to a civilian Internet system to reduce the burden on the MWR facilities.

The purchase of local or third-country satellite Internet systems is used to meet the need Soldiers identified. These systems range in size from a few friends in the same tent getting together to buy a system to the more than 300 users spread across an expanding forward operating base.

These systems are user purchased, user resourced and user operated. The gains in family communication and morale have been considerable for TF Pacemaker, as a high operational tempo has made access to communications at all times important.

"There were many challenges in setting up the network," said Army 1st Lt. Tabber Mintz. The largest of these, was realistic expectation management. Soldiers were briefed ahead of time on what to expect from the system so they were less likely to be dissatisfied with the service."

The second issue was setting expectations for users, limitations on the system in writing, and ensuring that all users agreed to follow the guidelines. Soldiers were able to use Web cams, instant messengers and voice applications.

"The final concern that needed to be addressed was the absence of the equipment needed to raise the quality of service to our Soldiers," said Army Sgt. Jonathan Morris.

Morris and Army 1st Lt. Mintz came up with innovative ways to resource the necessary equipment. According to Mintz, this made the system much more efficient allowing the Soldiers better access to their entire Web based applications.

The Soldiers voiced their appreciation on a daily basis for the ability to continue meaningful communications with their loved ones and for the capacity to find ways to unwind and relax at the end of a good days work.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Daren Brekke, from Paradise, Mont., is a father of eight and uses the civilian Internet to communicate with his family.

"We are a long ways from home. Being able to communicate with loved ones via the civilian Internet and Web cam increases Soldiers' morale and closes the disconnect between the Soldiers and their families caused by lengthy and frequent deployments," said Brekke.

• Date Taken: 03.06.2008
• Date Posted: 03.10.2008 16:38
• Story ID: 17208
• Location: AF