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    Braving New Heights for Communications

    Braving New Heights for Communications

    Photo By Spc. Evan Marcy | Pvt. Justin Hill, A Company, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, adjusts his straps...... read more read more

    BAGHDAD, IRAQ

    10.01.2008

    Story by Spc. Evan Marcy 

    5th Signal Command (Theater)

    By Evan Marcy
    Headquarters, 5th Signal Command

    BAGHDAD, Iraq - Soldiers are showing bravery in various ways supporting the global war on terrorism. While not all are in a direct fight with an enemy, Soldiers deployed with combat support units have to also display courage setting up military infrastructures in Iraq.

    The 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion is showing their support by recently installing satellites in three Forward Operating Bases in order to provide Internet Protocol Radio relays. This effort is part of 44th's overall mission to provide world-class communications support to warfighters in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

    The set up will provide the FOBs with a new way to enable connectivity between internet protocol connections, which are primarily used to communicate between FOBs, with radio frequency communications that are normally used off post. Once the satellites are in place "the radios work just as well as any regular Voice over Internet Protocol system; it just intertwines into the existing network," said Sgt. Joseph R. Chavis, 44th ESB.

    The first part of the team's mission was setting up a four-foot parabolic dish on top of a 150-foot tower at Joint Base Balad. This required the Soldiers to climb the tower carrying equipment to the top.

    "When you look at a tower it just looks like it is a ladder, but it will work you out, I was sore for the first couple of days the first time I climbed," said Spc. Adam Spoerle, 44th ESB. "You get blisters on your fingers and on your hands, it's pretty difficult."

    "The physical aspects are pretty tough, although the hardest part is getting the heavier equipment on the ground up to one, two hundred feet," said Chavis.

    The climbing presented a set of dangers that took personal courage to overcome.

    "There are different dangers climbing up and down those towers," said Spoerle. "You could get muscle failure and fall off, and while at the top, you have to watch out for helicopters and airplanes because the strong winds they produce can blow you off."

    Prior to the mission, the team prepared physically and mentally for their task. They received classroom instruction and performed physical training.

    "The Soldiers are extremely brave. Within their first day of training they climbed a 110 feet after learning the fundamentals in a classroom environment," said Master Sgt. Angelia Hunter, 44th ESB.

    "We did a lot of dry runs and went through phases of everyday climbing and training that made everybody's body adjusted to what needed to be done and how it was to be done, said Chavis. "This ensured everyone had a strong working knowledge of what needed to happen once we got on site."

    Chavis and Spoerle made the ascent with a pulley and one end of a rope. "We get the pulley ready, and then we just hand feed the rope down to the ground crew," said Spoerle. At the ground the Soldiers hook the rope which is tied to the satellite up to a mechanical pulley. "They have one person controlling a rope pulling the tower up, and the other person pulling a rope attached to the dish away from the tower, so that the dish doesn't touch the tower," said Spoerle.

    "Once the satellite reaches the top we put the mounting brackets on and we mount it up, install the cable, then we adjust it to where the shot is perfect," added Spoerle. The setup for the shot is considered a direct line of sight, which must be aimed directly at the receiving satellite which is located on a nearby Forward Operating Base.

    The low legacy shot is provided by a redline antennae in the dish on Balad and is being relayed from one FOB to another. "The parabolic antenna is a lot easier than previous systems, you don't need any manpower," said Hunter. "You put them in and they sit, you don't have to take Soldiers from other missions in order to monitor this link."

    The Soldiers have taken more from this experience than physical training. "It is really intense being a climber, it's a good work out, and it makes you appreciate things a lot more when you're looking down," said Spoerle.

    "The best and greatest in technological advances are improving the communication infrastructure here in Iraq, but no improvements can be made until brave and courageous Soldiers safely climb a tower and install the radio system," said Maj. John Harris, 44th ESB executive officer.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.01.2008
    Date Posted: 10.01.2008 03:27
    Story ID: 24357
    Location: BAGHDAD, IQ

    Web Views: 607
    Downloads: 554

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