National Guard, active component Signal leaders discuss partnership opportunities in Europe

Photo By William King | U.S. Army Spc. Xavier Palacios, assigned to Bravo Company, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 2nd Theater Signal Brigade, and U.S. Army Spc. Trey Whitney, assigned to Bravo Company, 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, South Carolina National Guard, troubleshoot a Command Post Node switch, June 5, 2018, in Boleslaweic, Poland. (U.S. Army photo by William B. King)  

WIESBADEN, HE, GERMANY

08.15.2018

Story by William King 

2d Theater Signal Brigade

WIESBADEN, Germany -- U.S. Army Signal leaders assigned to the 2d Theater Signal Brigade and the 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, South Carolina National Guard, met Aug. 13, 2018, in Wiesbaden to discuss current and future partnership, training and operations opportunities in Europe.

Since establishing a partnership in 2016, the 228th TTSB has supported 2d Theater Signal Bde. and U.S. Army Europe at exercise Combined Resolve in Germany, exercise Saber Strike in Poland, with the Windows 10 transition in Europe and Africa, and the Atlantic Resolve mission.

Bravo Company, 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 228th TTSB, SCNG, has been deployed to Poland since May to provide U.S. Army Europe with additional tactical signal capacity to support multinational exercises and the Atlantic Resolve mission, and to allow the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Europe’s only permanently assigned ESB, much-needed time for rest, training and equipment maintenance. In addition to providing tactical communications support, the company will also provide strategic communications assistance, including network administration, desktop support and cabling for U.S. Army units in Poland.

U.S. Army Col. Neil Khatod, commander of the 2d Theater Signal Bde., said the support from the 228th TTSB has been essential in working with our allies and rehearsing for any contingencies in the theater.

“Bravo 151 is helping us build our capacity to fight if called upon by increasing the number of points of presence we can bring the network to, but also by helping us modernize and improve the 44th (Expeditionary Signal Bn.),” Khatod said. “I’m appreciative of what you guys have brought to the table.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike Vaughn, commander of the 151st ESB, 228th TTSB, SCNG, said the deployment to Europe will help enhance the training and readiness level of his entire battalion.

“They’re going to take that training and experience they gained here in Europe and bring it back to the battalion and share that with everyone else,” Vaughn said.

Both active component and National Guard leaders present agreed on the importance of having strong partnerships established in advance of any potential conflict.

“We’re all one team, one fight,” said U.S. Army Col. David Jenkins, commander of the 228th TTSB. “Having that experience beforehand is invaluable.”

---

2d Theater Signal Brigade conducts Department of Defense Information Network operations to enable mission command in support of U.S. Army, Joint and multinational operations throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of operation.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2018
• Date Posted: 08.15.2018 04:04
• Story ID: 288790
• Location: WIESBADEN, HE, DE