78th supports Japan's disaster day exercise

Army Communicator, Winter, 2003 by Luan Nguyen

CAMP ZAMA, Japan--Earthquakes and typhoons are common disasters frequently occurring in Japan.

To prepare for such disasters, the Kanagawa Prefecture Emergency Action Center and the U.S. Army Japan Emergency Operation Center conducted their annual Disaster Day exercise Aug. 24.

The 78th Signal Battalion High Frequency Radio Division mission provided secondary communications support to the EAC and the EOC.

SSG Robert Franklin and SPC Donald Yonce from the 78th's HFRD departed Camp Zama for a Kanagawa Prefecture governmental building, where they set up their international maritime satellite and associated equipment on the roof.

Following exercise instructions, they began communications checks by placing calls to the USARJ EAC and the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine's INMARSAT. After successful contacts were made, they conducted a secure voice and fax communications check by calling and sending faxed documents via STU-III (secure telephone) to the USARJ EOC.

Franklin and Yonce concluded the communications exercise by sending and receiving voice and fax communications to the U.S. facilities liaison in Yokohama.

"The exercise was a tremendous success," said LTC William Montgomery, battalion commander and G-6, USARJ. "The 78th's HFRD team performed superbly, receiving praise from the USARJ EOC personnel for their quality support.

"This bilateral training event will undoubtedly enhance our ability to prepare for future disasters in Japan," Montgomery noted. "It was a great opportunity for our signal soldiers to refine their skills and technical expertise, but more importantly it was a chance to support and work with our host country in becoming better prepared when disaster strikes."

1LT Nguyen is assigned to the 78th Signal Battalion.