Signal Soldiers say Annual Training is Critical for Success

Photo By Lt. Col. Gregory Majewski | U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers with Charlie Company, 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion receive invaluable training while testing their signal equipment upgrades during this year's annual training cycle at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. (Photo by Capt. Mike Passoff)  

CA, UNITED STATES

06.20.2016

Story by Lt. Col. Gregory Majewski 

335th Signal Command (Theater)

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Two words U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers know all too well, are embedded in the lexicon of military circles since the early days of the service: annual training.

For Soldiers in the signal community, annual training, now called extended combat training, has become even more critical as compared to their sister Army branches. But why?

Annual training by definition is typically a two week exercise where citizen Soldiers leave their reserve centers and head out into the field or tactical environment to train and test their equipment while also sharpening their skill sets.

Emerging and changing technologies in combination with limited training opportunities throughout the year have turned annual training for signal units into a firestorm of hard nose learning, which Soldiers say is just part of the game of being prepared.

“Everyone was working as a team to get our equipment where it needed to be,” said Capt. Mike Passoff, Charlie Company Commander, 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. “It is good practice for the real world, because you never know when you are going to combat and how your equipment is going to work.”

The 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion recently wrapped up its annual training last week at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., where they tested and fielded new signal equipment they had only received two months earlier.

For the non-commissioned officers assigned the task of ensuring their Soldiers are trained and ready, annual training is where maximum effort provides big time rewards.

“The Army spends millions of dollars on the equipment around here and if you are not effectively and efficiently using it, it is a huge waste of tax payer’s dollars,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Nelson, Telecommunications Chief.

Platoon Leader of the 558th Signal Company, 1st Lt. David Hritz, said that despite a condensed time table for learning, he commends his Soldiers for their dedication to do whatever is necessary during annual training to ensure they are prepared.

“This is invaluable training because this is where they can use these systems in a real world environment while supporting a bigger mission which is much better than doing training at home,” said Hritz. “My guys have given me some very good feedback on this exercise and we are only going to get better.”

There are advantages for signaleers who also work similar jobs in the civilian sector. Annual training becomes an opportunity where a Soldier can become even better and more efficient while working in two careers.

“I always preach to Soldiers that I like to see their signal skills and their civilian IT skills to run in parallel,” said Sgt. Maj. Jeff Lee, Operations Sergeants Major, 319th Expeditionary Signal Battalion. “They will be stronger working both if their skill sets are aligned.”

For a new Soldier experiencing annual training for the first time, they learn quickly the importance of the exercise. The training allows them to learn how their job fits in with the overall operation, while also getting the chance to learn about other team members’ jobs.

“I learned a lot about how the whole system works,” said Pfc. Donovan Patrick, Multichannel Operator. “The chance to cross train at annual training makes being here very fun.”

The end of annual training does not stop the process of learning as the 319th ESB leaders are already looking ahead to next year’s exercise and how to apply lessons learned this year to make it even better.

“My success is their success. When they do a good job, we owe it to them as officers to make sure we put the best plans forward so we can succeed in our mission,” said Passoff.

• Date Taken: 06.20.2016
• Date Posted: 07.07.2016 22:24
• Story ID: 203368
• Location: CA, US