US Navy sailors man Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah communication department

Photo By Maj. Mark Graff | U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Martin, from Shelbyville, Ill., of Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, checks the communication equipment of a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, Forward Operating Base Farah, Farah province, Afghanistan, Nov. 14. As a part of the Communication Department (S-6), it is Petty Officer Martin's responsibility to maintain all communication equipment. The PRT's mission is to support economic development and effective governance at the district, municipal and provincial level in Farah province to enhance the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s legitimacy and its ability to provide basic services to the people of Farah.  

FARAH, AFGHANISTAN

11.14.2011

Story by Senior Airman Mark Graff 

Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah

FARAH, Afghanistan – The communication (S-6) department is one of the most important departments of Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah, the S-6 department help keep mission afloat.

"Without communications we would be dead in the water," says U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Peter Stone, a member of the S-6 Department. "There would be no way for our tactical operation center [TOC] to know if something happened to our people on mission. Whether they need to evacuate wounded personnel, our let them know their position."

PRT Farah has over 6.7 million dollars worth of communication equipment, which the S-6 shop is responsible for maintaining. This includes a variety radios. This includes the Harris 152 radio, which every vehicle is equipped with. It works on line of sight, and for longer distances in which line of sight wouldn't work, the PRT uses the Harris 117, which is for satellite communication. It is also up to the S-6 members to maintain the encryption that is on all radios.

"Everything we maintain is important in its own way. Each kind of radio serves its own role." stated Petty Officer Stone.

The PRT conducts mission all over the province. There are some places that can only be reached by helicopter and needless to say where regular communication methods don't work. When PRT members are so far away, communication with home base can make or break the success of the mission. Before those missions the communication shop has to check every radio and all systems, to make sure they would work in every different situation

Recently, the PRT went to Purchaman district to meet with key leaders of the village. Within five minutes of landing, Petty Officer 3rd Class Steven Davis had set up a mobile TOC and established communications with home base.

"If something had gone wrong with the equipment, it was my responsibility to troubleshoot and fix the problem and to make sure if we needed help from home base we would have the ability to call for it." said Petty Officer Davis.

With every mission, especially ones so far away, communication is key. Without it, mission personnel would be on their own, with no way to get help. As with tasks in everyday life, communication is the key to success.

• Date Taken: 11.14.2011
• Date Posted: 11.21.2011 04:35
• Story ID: 80310
• Location: FARAH, AF