Photo By Capt. James Mercure | Lance Cpl. Nicholas Patterson, data network specialist and information assurance...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Taking on the workload of a senior noncommissioned officer is a testament to an individual Marine’s character, and doing it as a lance corporal is an inspiration.
Lance Cpl. Nicholas Patterson, data network specialist and information assurance noncommissioned officer in charge for Regimental Combat Team 7, performs two jobs and never skips a beat.
“I monitor the security for the network to ensure classified information stays classified,” said Patterson, a Green Bay, Wis. native. “I also troubleshoot networks for thousands of users, and it’s my job to make sure they have network capabilities and a means of communication wherever they are in Afghanistan.”
Not satisfied with just making sure the networks are up and running correctly, Patterson also ensures the farther the Marines push from the larger bases that their service is never far behind.
“I also do satellite communications to the more austere locations like the (forward operating bases) and (combat outposts) and extend the network reach so the guys that need to push out can still have the same service,” Patterson said.
The responsibilities held by this lance corporal are typically on the shoulders of a sergeant, but Patterson is held in high esteem by his seniors and a desire to do the job well makes him a natural fit for the billet.
“I’m a quick learner and can keep up with everything, but sometimes it becomes very difficult troubleshooting systems outside your location,” Patterson said. “Being able to see the configurations and trying to help them over the phone gets complicated at times.”
Although the 21 year old loves being a Marine, his service to his community didn’t start when he stepped on the yellow footprints.
“My church group in Green Bay built houses in Minnesota for those less fortunate,” Patterson said. “When I played sports in high school, we also helped out with different charity organizations, and we would go over there and do our part for our community. During Christmas time, my wrestling team would sing carols at local hospitals. We went from floor to floor and anybody that wanted to listen we’d sing, but we went there to sing for the kids.”
Patterson’s drive to become a Marine came from a competitive spirit and a desire to show his grandfather he had what it took to be successful in the military.
“My grandfather was in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, and he always bragged about it,” Patterson said. “I wanted to be the grandchild that went above and beyond what he had already done. I’m very competitive, and I played a lot of contact sports. I wanted to one-up everybody, so I wanted to join the Marine Corps.”
Now with two years in the Corps, Patterson says he would like to stick with his current career path and finish strong on this deployment.
“I’m glad I became a data Marine, and I want to see how this deployment goes,” Patterson said. “The Marine Corps has been good to me, so I’ll probably stay in. Doing data in the Marine Corps has given me a skill that will serve me throughout my life.”
Also, to no surprise to anyone from the Green Bay area, Patterson is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan.
“I’ve been a Packers fan since birth,” he said with a laugh. “Every kid has their own blanket when they go to sleep as a baby. Mine was a Packers blanket, and it’s been that kind of devotion to the team since.”
Patterson shows the same devotion for his team and his career, and his chain of command has taken notice.
“Lance Cpl. Patterson is a consummate professional with his technical expertise with data (communications) and brings enthusiasm and a strong work ethic every day,” said Gunnery Sgt. Albert Perez, RCT-7 cyber security manager and Patterson’s staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “I hope he stays in the Marine Corps because he has a lot of potential and any task he’s given or takes on his own, it just gets done.”
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series wherein every week we recognize an individual Marine or sailor with Regimental Combat Team 7. The Marines and sailors of RCT-7 are dedicated, disciplined and driven to accomplish the mission, and the Marine in this article has earned special recognition for standing out among these professionals. Be sure to check every week to see who will be honored as the latest Marine of the Week.
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2012 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 98084 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 478 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Green Bay native keeps massive computer network running in Afghanistan, by CPT James Mercure, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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