417th Signal Battalion keeps Joint Thunder connected

Army Communicator, Fall, 2004 by Wes J. Nowitzki

Being able to talk to somebody on a phone or other device has turned into an easy, hassle-free, day-to-day event that most people take for granted. But in the field, communications within and between units is a "must" and not such an easy task to accomplish.

The Florida Army National Guard's 417th Signal Battalion from Tallahassee, and its 54 Soldiers traveled to South Dakota to command and control Operation Joint Thunder's communications network. "Our mission is to install, operate and maintain voice and data communication for Joint Thunder and its subordinate units," said MAJ Edson Kline, 417th operations officer.

The unit commanded two subordinate units: the Colorado Army National Guard's 140th Signal Company with 73 Soldiers, and the Army Reserve's 558th Cable and Wire Company, Ohio, with 70 Soldiers.

Soldiers from the 558th used telescoping, man-lifts to run cable and wire through the air. Shovels, trenching machines and sweat were used to lay cable and wire in the ground.

The 140th installed, operated and maintained the communications throughout the exercise. The signal unit set up many communication vans and tents around the expanse of the Black Hills to relay the data and voice information flowing to the units participating in Joint Thunder.

Communications specialist SGT Richard Farmer, who calls his unit the 'Cable Dawgs' said, "It's pretty country up here, but the weather is really strange; it's never the same." The units paid close attention to the weather--lightning, rain and heat had the potential to cause major accidents and injuries.

One unique aspect to this year's Joint Thunder communications was its participation in "Grecian Firebolt," the Army Reserve's largest signal exercise, which is hosted by the 311th Theater Signal Command out of Fort Meade, Md.

The exercise supports other major training exercises around the United States, and deploys signal assets to tie an entire communications network together via satellite. This unique architecture allows units around the country to communicate via the secure and unsecure networks.

It also allows the Army and Air National Guard, the Army Reserve and the Active Army to test their "signaleer" and other technological skills in a joint environment. "This is a good opportunity for the Army and Air Force to work together and learn from each other," said MSG Nick Oquendo, noncommissioned-officer-in-charge from the 290th Joint Communications Support Squadron from Mac Dill Air Force Base, Fla. The tactical-satellite van provided by the 290th communicated with satellites that helped comprise the backbone for the Grecian Firebolt network.

An Army National Guard unit from Puerto Rico--the 35th Signal Battalion--sent 15 soldiers to South Dakota to assist in Grecian Firebolt. They provided line-of-sight equipment to support voice communications to the remote Joint Thunder training sites in the South Dakota Black Hills.

The 417th and its subordinate units also trained on tactical movements, hardening of vehicles, medical evacuations and transporting casualties during Joint Thunder.

SGT Nowitzki serves with the South Dakota National Guard 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, and covered activities at Operation Joint Thunder, a joint annual training exercise involving Army and Air National Guard, Active Army and Army Reserve units.