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    359th TTSB extends network to help thousands of subscribers train

    Soldiers complete signal exercise at Fort Gordon

    Photo By Sgt. Anthony Hooker | Army Reserve Sgt. Marcus Marshall passes a fuel can to Pfc. Jason Mierly Aug. 23 at...... read more read more

    FORT GORDON, GA, UNITED STATES

    08.28.2012

    Story by Spc. Anthony Hooker 

    359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade

    FORT GORDON, Ga. - The 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade recently completed participation in Grecian Firebolt, the Army Reserve's largest and only communications exercise that supports real-world missions and training. Run simultaneously at several locations across the country, Grecian Firebolt 2012 supported four different training exercises involving nearly 22,000 Active and Army Reserve soldiers from May 29 to Aug. 25. A subordinate unit of the 335th Signal Command (Theater), the 359th TTSB synchronized operations for exercises CSTX-78 and Rail Train 12 while serving as systems control from July 9 to Aug. 25.

    The 359th TTSB converted classrooms in the Army Reserve Training Center located at Fort Gordon, Ga., into a command and control structure called the Joint Network Operation Control Center. Although the JNCC was tactically hundreds of miles away from sites established in Puerto Rico, California and Wisconsin, a number of practices were established so personnel at Fort Gordon could account for any status changes.

    Warrant Officer Mary Nelson, one of the officers in charge of monitoring and directing the JNCC, said the unit had to rely on their distant ends to send reliable and the most up-to-date information. "We would monitor the subordinate units for troubleshooting issues," said Nelson. We conducted daily briefings over network lines and received communication and personnel status reports regularly, continued Nelson who juggled the duties of network operator and battle captain during the exercise.

    Nelson said receiving those reports became crucial because participating units were rotating out of the exercise after two weeks, which often affected the ability of the JNCC to maintain current links or install additional ones. "We noticed units had their more experienced soldiers running systems at the beginning of the exercise and their less experienced soldiers training towards the end of the mission," added Nelson. "Having to reestablish [our standards and practices] threw off our battle rhythm."

    Sgt. Marcus Marshall traveled from his Atlanta home to work as a joint network node supervisor for the 359th TTSB. Marshall, who led a team that provided the satellite links for the JNCC, said this was the first time he provided support to a real-world subscriber since he joined the 324th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, a subordinate unit of the 359th TTSB. Having served previously as an engineer for an active-duty unit, Marshall said Grecian Firebolt made him aware of how his team's performance fit into the big picture.

    "I didn't realize that the Reserves had responsibilities where [Soldiers] could perform in an active-duty capacity," Marshall said. "When I joined, I just thought it was going to be the one weekend a month thing...this exercise made me understand what we do for the Army."

    Marshall encountered challenges as soon as he hit the post. "Coming from [Atlanta], I didn't have a relationship with the Fort Gordon units. On this exercise I managed soldiers from three different companies, so as a leader I had to manage and identify their skills on the fly."

    During the second half of the mission, Marshall said any and everything went wrong. Marshall said the team experienced system shutdowns and satellite parts breaking or malfunctioning. Those faults forced the team to resource various companies for replacement parts so the mission would not be in jeopardy. Marshall said reaching out to fellow signal personnel gave him an education only experience could provide. "You're not expected to know everything," said Marshall, "but the expectation is you know where to go to get the problem fixed."

    Maj. Elder Sanford, a systems supervisor who served as an officer in charge of the JNCC, said members of the 359th TTSB always had learning opportunities with the obstacles they faced. Although the unit recently completed a deployment to Afghanistan in 2011, Sanford said the unit has a number of new people to the unit or to their current position who benefited from the hands-on training Grecian Firebolt provided. "The goal of the exercise is to train soldiers for real-world missions, whether it is [stateside] or [overseas]," said Sanford. "Grecian Firebolt allows units to activate network operations throughout various parts of the country...hardware, software issues, having to adjust to a soldier's skill level, what soldiers do here is identical to what they would do in theater."

    As citizen-soldiers, some unit members juggled civilian pursuits with their military duties. Spc. Charles Smith, an information systems analyst, deployed with the 359th TTSB to Afghanistan but said his responsibilities increased exponentially during Grecian Firebolt. Placed on active-duty operational support orders (commonly identified as ADOS orders), Smith said he often worked 10- to 12-hour days only to go home and have to work on online courses he'd committed to prior to coming on orders.

    Because only a limited amount of soldiers trained for more than 15 consecutive days, the 359th TTSB tried to focus on getting individual soldiers' military affairs in order. Capt. Theodore Forbes, commander of the 359th TTSB's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, said the unit tried to ensure the physical, logistical and administrative affairs of individual soldiers were updated. "It's a good time to manage soldiers' affairs because they are physically present," said Forbes. "Being able to meet training standards without having to wait for the next battle assembly is a big help to the unit."

    The 359th TTSB provided nearly 10,000 soldiers with communications support. Master Sgt. Michael Irvin, the non-commissioned officer in charge of Grecian Firebolt for the 335th Signal Command (Theater), visited Fort Gordon to do a closeout inspection of equipment signed out to the 359th TTSB. Irvin said the 335th relied on the 359th TTSB's ability to troubleshoot so operations could go on without a major disruption. "When those warfighters go out there, they need communications," said Irvin. "Grecian Firebolt is an [United States Army Reserve Command] directed exercise. The 359th TTSB's successful execution provides validation that they can handle future missions or, if necessary, deployment."

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.28.2012
    Date Posted: 09.07.2012 09:40
    Story ID: 94351
    Location: FORT GORDON, GA, US

    Web Views: 183
    Downloads: 0

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