Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Dalton Smith | Sgt. Zachary Sheffield, an information technology specialist with the 3rd Medical...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A constant stream of emails and phone calls descend upon the 3rd Medical Command (Deployment Support) as they simulate command and control of medical support here at the Mission Training Center. Yet two weeks ago, this same MTC simulation room was bare and devoid of any internet or telecommunications.
A dedicated team of six U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers flew desktop computers, phones, routers, and cabling nearly 1,000 miles to Joint Base San Antonio from Fort Gillem, Georgia, where the 3rd MCDS is based. Ahead of any other party, this team, led by Sgt. Zachary Sheffield, established communication assets for the 3rd MCDS prior to the command’s participation in the Global Medic 2018 Combat Support Training Exercise.
“You can’t talk without us,” said Sheffield, 26, a native of Providence, Rhode Island.
With eight years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve and two deployments under his belt, Sheffield has the experience to keep communication for 3rd MCDS running seamlessly throughout the CSTX. Nevertheless, he conveyed that few may be aware of his team’s importance to the overall mission.
“People don’t know how much is done behind the scenes to keep everything operational the entire time at command level,” said Sheffield. “We have to ensure that all the phones, computers, software, network, printers, satellites and more run smoothly after we set it all up. We also ensure all of our subordinate units are good to go with their communication needs.”
Exercises like the CSTX have served as great opportunities for Sheffield and his team to demonstrate their expertise in setting up communications infrastructure and support.
“So far we have repaired 47 help desk tickets in three days,” said Sheffield. “I actually enjoy trouble shooting, it gives me more experience on topics I need more training on.”
However, this CSTX has also presented new challenges that Sheffield and his team have not encountered during their previous military occupation specialty training.
“Medical units are different from other units, for many reasons,” said Sheffield. We have to learn about all this medical software and equipment not taught in Army schools.”
Their work, despite the lack of recognition and many challenges, have inspired Sheffield’s subordinate Soldiers to achieve future success in the Army Reserve.
“Sgt. Sheffield motivates me,” said Spc. Aaron Watkins, an information technology specialist with the 3rd MCDS. “He’ll ask us questions we don’t know the answer to, we’ll research it and then come back to him with the answer.”
Watkins, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, has considered becoming an NCO and possibly a warrant officer in future.
“If you have the drive and motivation, you can learn anything. My NCOs give me that inspiration,” said Watkins. “My future goals are in communications for the Army Reserve because an army needs communications to function.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2018 17:42 |
| Story ID: | 285043 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT GILLEM, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 289 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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