Cav. establishes LAN at Iraqi Training Center

Photo By 2nd Lt. Andrew Mayer | Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, helped set up this computer lab in the Shaiba Training Center. The equipment was procured by the Iraqis who asked soldiers to help install them.  

BASRA PROVINCE, IRAQ

12.07.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Sgt. David Dasilma
4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd AAB, 4th Inf. Div.

BASRA PROVINCE, Iraq – With the help of soldiers of 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, communications section, Shaiba Training Center in the Basra province received a major upgrade: a local area network.

The network construction, led by 1st Lt. Aric Asti, a signal officer from Milwaukee, Wis., provided a unique opportunity to use the installation as a training event to teach the center’s technical staff how to maintain and add to the LAN in the future.

A local area network is a computer network that connects computers and devices in a limited geographical area such as a home, school, computer lab or office building. The training center currently maintains 25 computers, and now those computers can communicate and transfer data at rapid rates, increasing staff efficiency and creating a more productive teaching environment.

With the high volume of Iraqi security force training conducted on a daily basis, the center is not your average training facility. Some recent courses held at the center include photography, media interviewing and story writing. The center also conducted a 45-day basic medical training course where the Iraqi Army taught students from the 4th Department of Border Enforcement and certified them as medics.

Although U.S. forces help facilitate training courses, Iraqis routinely conduct training for other Iraqis.

“This training provided a local area network that will allow the electronic transfer of class material between class leadership,” said Asti.

During a meeting with Staff Brig. Gen. Talal, Oct. 29, after a physical assessment and a recommendation by Asti, the squadron’s Security Transition Team presented a training plan, which encompassed the entire operation. They agreed upon the plan, and within 72 hours the execution of the project was underway. On Nov. 23, the team implemented the final phase and the communication network was up and running.

“The network we’ve just established has the [same] physical and logical topology as those used by major corporations worldwide,” said Asti.

Topology can be considered the virtual shape or structure of a network. Logical topology refers to how the data is actually transferred, whereas physical topology refers to actual location, devices, and equipment such as cables and wires.

A valuable aspect of the physical topology is that the materials were locally procured, and a positive feature of the logical topology is that the network was created in a manner that allows for future enhancement.

“The STC technicians were taught by demonstration, hands-on practice, and actual implementation,” said Asti. “We even showed them how fluidity and dynamic critical thinking while erecting a network can bypass most challenges. The current network is scalable and the Iraqi technicians are trained, which means they can continue to improve and expand it long after we leave.”

Asti is planning a follow-up visit to the center to gain feedback from the Iraqi technicians and address any concerns they may have regarding their ability to maintain the network without assistance.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2010
• Date Posted: 12.13.2010 06:46
• Story ID: 61861
• Location: BASRA PROVINCE, IQ