50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion Supports USARAF

Courtesy Photo | Battalion Commander LTC Adams addresses the deploying Soldiers. Soldiers pictured, from closest to furthest, PFC Cossey, SPC Sommer, SPC Broome, SPC Potts, SPC Ambrocio, SPC Sinclair.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

09.01.2017

Courtesy Story

35th Corps Signal Brigade

At the start of fiscal year 2017, B Company, 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, also known as the Bandits, will assume a mission supporting U.S. Army Africa. A majority of the company will remain at its home duty station of Fort Bragg, on standby to provide Soldiers to execute relatively short-notice missions in Africa. A small group of about three teams will deploy in September to support the BOS-I operation in western Africa.
B Company’s trained and ready Soldiers will provide communications to units from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) via SIPR/ NIPR Access Points (SNAPs), Command Post Nodes (CPNs), Joint Network Nodes (JNNs), and the Phoenix Terminal.
B Company has been preparing for this mission over time, even before knowing it would be assigned to them, through the multitude of support missions they have supported. The Bandits have supported multiple echelons of units from all different branches in locations from right here at Fort Bragg, to Maryland, California, and Germany.
Recently, B Company is especially focusing on building the number of SNAP operators the company has available for the many African support missions that the unit expects will be required over the next year.
B Company’s Spc. Lane, Spc. Uzzle, and PV2 Bock, led a major SNAP training for the company with additional instruction from Sgt. Burris from the Battalion Net Ops Section. This training event took operators through every step of SNAP operation, from antenna set up to satellite acquisition, to pulling services through the router case. Operators then validated on the equipment, with full set up taking no more than one hour. Each of these operators is now prepared to deploy to provide rapid mission-essential communications to the supported units.
Lane continues to train more and more B Company Soldiers each day, making the best use of all available preparation time before deployment.
The PHX team also did an enormous amount of work to prepare for their deployment and ensure their equipment and personnel were ready for the challenges ahead. Team Chief Sgt. Howell has the utmost confidence and pride in his team. He says, “My team and I are more than prepared to go support the efforts of fellow units in areas of heavy terrorist activities.”
The JNN and CPN teams are equally prepped and ready and eager to do all they can to provide communications support to the units already deployed to and those deploying to Africa. As one CPN operator, Spc Potts, said, “I’m excited to experience something new and to progress as a Soldier.” The Bandits are truly embracing this deployment as an opportunity to prove their readiness and technical skillset, as well as continue to develop themselves as Soldiers.
B Company is also working to ensure the families of B Company are prepared for this deployment. B Company hosted an ice cream social/ Family Readiness Group (FRG) meeting to re-acquaint some long-time Bandit Families and to introduce some newer members of the Bandits. The new Bandit FRG Leader, Mrs. Daniel, as well as the treasurer, Mrs. Hammers, and several other FRG volunteers welcomed families into the FRG, providing essential information and support to the Bandit Family.
B Company Commander, Capt. Dowd addressed the families and Soldiers of B Company, describing the mission set, requirements, and tentative timelines. B Company is determined and excited to maintain this FRG relationship and further strengthen the Bandit Family.
B Company’s Soldiers and families are eager to step off on their USARAF mission. As Staff Sgt. Daniel stated, “This is what every NCO lives to do; lead a small group of highly trained and motivated Soldiers on a real world mission.” The Soldiers are trained on their equipment and are packing their bags to be ready on a moment’s notice. The Bandits, with the support of our families and our Battalion, are ready to deploy to Africa.

• Date Taken: 09.01.2017
• Date Posted: 09.12.2017 15:18
• Story ID: 247941
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US