Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely | The Kansas National Guard activated a new signal company, the 330th Brigade Signal...... read more read more
WICHITA, Kan. - “We are in the future.”
The future is now, according to 1st Sgt. James Peeler, first sergeant with the newly-activated 330th Brigade Signal Company of the Kansas Army National Guard.
“It’s something out of 'Star Trek,'” said Peeler. “That’s where we’re at right now.”
The 330th BSC was officially activated during a ceremony at the Heartland Preparedness Center in Wichita, Kansas, Dec. 5. It will operate as part of the 997th Brigade Support Battalion and serve primarily as the signal arm of the 130th Field Artillery Brigade, KSARNG.
The signal corps mission is to develop, test, provide and manage communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. According to 330th commander Capt. Louis Latimer, it’s a significant and uncommon charge.
“It’s a significant impact for the state and the signal community in general as this is the second signal company that Kansas has stood up, the first one was the 369th Brigade Signal Company,” said Latimer. “(The 330th) is one of 10 units like this (Department of Defense) wide."
“We will directly support the brigade,” he said. “Our mission could be summarized really as an Internet service provider. We are like Cox or AT&T coming to your house with our wire saying, ‘Here you go, here’s the Internet.’”
That’s no small task, considering a majority of Army operations involve some facet of network communications. Peeler, a 33-year veteran of the signal corps, said it’s an ever-evolving, vital component of military practices.
“Signal has evolved immensely,” said Peeler. “It’s grown leaps and bounds. It’s not stopping, it keeps growing and technology keeps getting better. We’re performing a mission that’s very critical.”
Latimer, a six-year signal officer, said that among his immediate goals is to fill the manning requirements for the unit by adding qualified and motivated Soldiers from within the brigade and statewide.
“They’re on it,” Peeler said about his younger Soldiers. “They’re quick learners. It’s their generation. My generation, we had balls on the end of a rubber band. These guys are starting off basically from the crib with technology. Their potential is there.”
Peeler also noted that there are a lot of civilian tie-ins with a career in signal, including the equipment used and certifications required.
“They have such an opportunity to expand their knowledge base through courses the Army offers,” he said. “The certificates that are out there in the civilian world, they can cost you a lot of money. All the stuff you need on the civilian side, you can pick up through the Army and save a lot of money.”
Just as the crew of the Star Ship Enterprise boldly went where no one had gone before, the Guardsmen of the 330th hope to lead the way as they fulfill their mission.
“This is really bringing Kansas onto a new playing field and opening up the door to the signal community in general,” Latimer said.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2015 16:30 |
| Story ID: | 184022 |
| Location: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Hometown: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 568 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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