Cobra Company ensures commo readiness

Photo By Sgt. Nicholas Holmes | Spc. Brandon McClure (left), a Command Post Node operator, and Sgt. Michael Remaly (right), a Joint Network Node team leader, both with Company C, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, perform preventive maintenance checks and services, on a Command Post Node, Feb. 19, 2016, at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Signal Soldiers conducted equipment maintenance to ensure mission readiness for upcoming training events. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nicholas Holmes/ Released)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

02.19.2016

Story by Spc. Nicholas Holmes 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Signal Soldiers of Company C, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, confirmed equipment readiness at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 15-19, for upcoming missions and training events.

Maintenance of military equipment is an integral part of defense capability. Having the ability to react expeditiously is essential to unit readiness.

"Regular maintenance safeguards preparedness and enables us to support the entire brigade's communication systems required during field missions," said 2nd Lt. Marissa Liebman, platoon leader of Co. C.

Company C is the battalion’s signal company and retains technical skills and equipment necessary to automate and transmit information between the battalion and allied forces through specialized teams.

"Charlie Company's readiness is extremely important to the unit," Liebman said. "We provide radio communication system capabilities, as well as voice and data services supporting the voice of command."

These Soldiers work with a variety of technical equipment and networking systems. It is imperative Soldiers conduct preventive maintenance checks and services, in accordance with Army doctrine.

"It is extremely important that the maintenance process is conducted thoroughly, taking the time to look in-depth," Liebman stated. "After identifying a possible issue, it is essential the problem source is confirmed."

This ensures proper trouble shooting methods are applied to correct the issue, according to Liebman.
In conjunction with regular maintenance, Soldiers train on equipment and systems to assure proficiency as operators.

"We conduct sergeant's time training weekly, where we train on equipment related to our individual [military occupational specialty] as well as cross train with other signal specialties," explained Spc. Auquera Cross, a retransmission team leader with Co. C.

During each fiscal year, the company conducts longer, more in-depth maintenance and operator training. These events evaluate the equipment's sustainment of services.

"We conduct signal and digital gunneries that involve running all of the different systems to identify shorts in connectivity and validate that all coding is correct," Liebman explained.

The readiness of Signal Corps Soldiers supports the brigade's overall readiness, ensuring the Soldiers and equipment are continuously prepared for increasing levels of mission command, from company level, up to division.

• Date Taken: 02.19.2016
• Date Posted: 02.22.2016 12:35
• Story ID: 189608
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US