1/82 CAV resolves network outage

Photo By Tulara McCauley | Spec. Ryan Simmons, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, left, reconfigures and reimages a computer at Contingency Operating Base McGregor, with assistance from Staff Sgt. William Michels, 1/82 Cav. The Soldiers worked with Spec. Nina Collins, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, to resolve network outages that resulted during a recent switch upgrade.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

07.01.2014

Story by Tulara McCauley 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas – Three Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, and one Soldier with 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division were recognized by the Directorate of Mobilization and Deployment for quickly resolving a significant network outage.

Spc. Ryan Simmons, from Redmond, Oregon; Staff Sgt. William Michels, from Portland, Oregon; 1st Lt. Michael Gallagher, from Portland, Oregon, 1/82nd Cav.; and Spc. Nina Collins, from Laredo, Texas, 3rd BCT, 1st AD, received accolades during a ceremony at the directorate, Jul. 1. Col. John Dorney, director, DoMaD, presented Simmons, Michels, and Collins with certificates of appreciation. Dorney also gave a directorate coin to Gallagher for his leadership.

When the 1/82nd Cav. transferred from Fort Bliss to Contingency Operating Base McGregor and Forward Operating Base Westbrook, they discovered a lack of network connectivity in the office and residential areas. A recent hardware upgrade caused the outages, which required 50 plus computers to be reconfigured and authenticated to the network. Gallagher closely worked with the Network Enterprise Center to establish the permissions needed to proceed with the mission.

“We were resilient. Once NEC reconfigured the switch, the mission took two days to complete,” said Gallagher.

According to Sgt. 1st Class John Talerico, communications and information management noncommissioned officer, DoMaD, the Soldiers devised a work-around fix. The team also assisted two other units in reconfiguring and authenticating their computers. The Soldiers went above and beyond what was expected of them by maintaining a resolution-oriented outlook.

“Normally units don't want to hear why it isn't working,” said Talerico. “The Army needs more Soldiers with a can-do attitude. I was grateful to serve with them.”

The 1/82nd Cav. began mobilizing through DoMaD on June 8 for an upcoming mission to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Date Taken: 07.01.2014
• Date Posted: 07.07.2014 17:21
• Story ID: 135448
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: BEND, OR, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US
• Hometown: LAREDO, TX, US
• Hometown: PORTLAND, OR, US
• Hometown: REDMOND, OR, US