173rd Airborne signalneers conduct communications training in Italian Dolomites

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade establish three antennas in order to facilitate secure FM radio coverage across northern Italy while conduct retransmission communications training deep in the Dolomite mountain village of Alpe di Siusi, Italy, Feb. 23, 2015. (U.S. Army photograph by 1st Lt. Orlando Florea)  

ALPE DI SIUSI, ITALY

02.23.2015

Courtesy Story

173rd Airborne Brigade

By 1st Lt. Orlando Florea

ALPE DI SIUSI, Italy – U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade conducted retransmission training deep in the Dolomite mountain range here, Feb. 23, 2015.

During the mission, paratroopers from Company C, 173rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, endured austere conditions while effectively accomplishing the dismounted retransmission mission by maneuvering more than 22 km in snowy terrain with all the antennas, radios, batteries and personal sustainment to support 72 hours of operations.

“Radio retransmission enables a radio frequency to penetrate deeper and transmit a longer distance via additional antennas,” said Pfc. Jaclyn Walker, a nodal network systems operator-maintainer.

The teams first analyzed the terrain in order to select tactical locations for the three retransmission sites. Following site selection, they moved on food to set up communications equipment and established positive communications with other teams over the tactical radio network.

“Training was amazing, the snow was a nice eye opener to the different types of terrain for a potential retrans mission,” said Sgt. Ashley Pawlowski, a senior-level radio operator.

Cross-training among the eight different signal military occupational specialties within the company further enhances the capabilities of the paratroopers.

“This was an excellent training experience to learn other types of equipment in a real life situation,” said Pfc. Weston A. Ullrich, a multichannel transmission systems operator. “It improved my knowledge of tactical radios and how the signal company facilitates wide area communications through retransmission sites.”

The training mission demonstrated the ability of the brigade to extend secure communications across a wide region in support of ground troops, allowing the 173rd signaleers to remain ready to serve where called upon and preparing the company for future collective training exercises including Eagle Phoenix in the U.K. and Slovenia in May, and Immediate Response 15 in Slovenia scheduled for September.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade provides a unique set of capabilities and flexibility to respond to missions in all types of terrain and climate, and is the U.S. Army contingency response force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands areas of responsibility within 18 hours.

• Date Taken: 02.23.2015
• Date Posted: 03.05.2015 08:25
• Story ID: 156007
• Location: ALPE DI SIUSI, IT