21st Century Comm

Photo By Sgt. Waine Haley | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Weber and his team of five personnel keeps the JNN system up and running.  

BAYJI, IRAQ

12.09.2005

Courtesy Story

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

By Spc. Waine D. Haley
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAYJI, Iraq (December 2, 2005)- - The Rakkasans" signal company has a new high-tech system that brings communications to a new level and ensures that the 101st Airborne Division can communicate on the modern battlefield. .

The division is the first to solely utilize the Joint Network Node communication system in Iraq. The 2nd Platoon, C Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, known as the "Dirty Deuce," and other signal platoons around the division are the ones making it happen.

"Signal has come a long way," said 2nd Lt. Kashe Brooks, 2nd Platoon Leader.

According to Chief Warrant Officer Gregory Weber, network technician, JNN is the digital version of satellite communication. "It's like comparing checkers to chess," said Weber, "It brings the Army up to speed with the civilian world."

The old system could only handle 10 to 15 users whereas the JNN can handle an unlimited amount of users. It's only bound by its bandwidth. The stand-alone system will provide secure and unsecure voice (phone) and data (internet) down to the battalion level.

"We don't lose links as much," said Brooks, "We can set it up and leave it. We're not constantly playing with it."

"Every new system has some bugs to it," added Weber, "The biggest obstacle has been training."

"The company only had a couple of months to train up for the new system," said Capt. Darby Baird, Commander, C Company, 3rd STB, "The hardware had only came in a couple of weeks before deployment.""

With the JNN being state-of-the-art, it becomes the center of attention, but there are numerous other systems out there that are just as important to the Army.

"I know a lot of emphasis has been placed on our JNN system since we have been here," said Baird, "and the 25U basic (communication) folks get left out of the mix sometimes. They're doing their jobs by providing other types of communications."

"If I could change one thing," said Baird, "I would like those people to be as recognized as the JNN crews. We can't have one without the other and that gets lost sometimes. They are both doing an outstanding job under extremely difficult circumstances."

Whether installing new high-tech equipment or operating and maintaining our tried and true systems, the "Dirty Deuce" is keeping the Rakkasans and the 101st Division's lines of communication open throughout the fight.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2005
• Date Posted: 12.09.2005 09:33
• Story ID: 4005
• Location: BAYJI, IQ