Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Dodds | First Lt. Beth Simek, West Fargo, acting commander of the 426th Signal Network Support...... read more read more
CAMP GRAFTON, N.D. - Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade are tearing through their camouflaged-colored stockings this week as they get their first peek at some brand new high-tech "toys" that will increase their capability to support future missions at home and abroad.
A number of units that fall under the Fargo-based 141st MEB, including its Headquarters Company and the 426th Signal Network Support Company, are putting all of this new equipment to use over the next three weeks during familiarization training at Camp Grafton. The work is part of the units' annual training, which focuses on new equipment fielding and new equipment training that started last August and culminates this summer.
But it's not all fun and games. The 141st soldiers will be put to the test in all-day classes taught by civilian and military experts so they can become more proficient on the latest communication, navigational and satellite networking the military has to offer. Additionally there are hands on training sessions to teach soldiers how to operate and maintain the new equipment, followed by sustainment training to improve or maintain their skill sets.
The training culminates in two back-to-back mock scenarios in which the soldiers will use the new equipment to create a "common operational picture" that allows the commander to more effectively employ troops and equipment.
Col. Lannie Runck, Fargo, commander of the 141st MEB, says the focus of annual training is on familiarizing soldiers on all the new equipment, setting it up, putting it through its paces, including learning how to use it, maintain it and taking it down, continually keeping safety in mind.
"It's exciting any time soldiers can learn and operate new equipment that helps them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently," Runck said. "If they can do their jobs better, the command can make informed decisions more quickly, and that's important because technology has compressed the environment we operate in now more than ever.
"We meet that challenge by strengthening our forces with technological advantages in situational awareness."
Several units that fall under the 141st MEB were not able to attend training at Camp Grafton as they were called for flood-fighting duties in Bismarck-Mandan and Minot, part of the North Dakota National Guard's Joint Task Force-West flood response. Even units that are at camp are missing soldiers who volunteered to serve as flood-fighters with Joint Task Force-West.
The ranks may be thinned a bit, but that's not affecting the enthusiasm to get the job done, according to Capt. Moranda Iverson, Grand Forks, commander of the 141st Higher Headquarters Company.
"The morale has been great," Iverson said. "The soldiers have been extremely understanding of all the changes in personnel and missions that have taken place due to flooding out west. Everyone seems extremely excited because we are getting new equipment, and getting the opportunity to learn how to use it."
HHC brought about 50 soldiers to camp for training. They combined with about a dozen soldiers from the 426th SNSC to make up the 141st MEB contingent.
More soldiers will file in over the next few days, including some from the 426th who've been attending another portion of the new equipment training at Ft. Hood, Texas.
First Lt. Beth Simek, West Fargo, acting 426th SNSC commander, said some soldiers in her unit have been at Ft. Hood since April getting specialized training, while others are seeing the new equipment for the first time.
"To this point, basically, everyone in the unit has only seen this stuff in a book," Simek said. "Now we're going to be able to touch it and see how it all fits and works together."
The 426th specializes in providing 24-hour operational signal and communication support for the 141st MEB command and its subordinate units.
Some of the new gadgets the unit is getting include satellite communication equipment, new-generation video teleconferencing capabilities and specially designed shelters to house it all.
For their part, HHC soldiers are training on the latest military communication and navigational technology, the Force 21 Battle Command Brigade-and-Below/Blue Force Tracking system, which operates from a ruggedized version of a personal laptop. This system sits in a military vehicle or aircraft and allows users to send and receive secure messages; plot and follow routes and provide their higher command continuous near-real time updates of their location, status and the contemporary operational environment.
FBCB2 software links an array of military data networks into one system that gives commanders at all levels the same common operational picture.
HHC also is becoming familiar with a new Command Post Platform, or series of massive climate-controlled portable shelters that will house the command staff and much of the new technology it will be fielding. The main CPP tent is two stories high and has "tubes" connected to satellite shelters for more personnel and equipment. It's also has a myriad fiber-optic connections, antennae, generators and environmental control units.
"This is state-of-the-art equipment and technology," Runck said. This is exactly the same equipment that the Active Army uses, which will increase our ability to integrate with them during deployments or during state emergencies."
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2011 16:51 |
| Story ID: | 72208 |
| Location: | CAMP GRAFTON, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 140 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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