Soldiers: JNN-N transmits more information, faster—saves lives saves lives

Army Communicator, Fall, 2006 by Josh Davidson

SGT Ricardo Vidaurri recalled a story told by Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division, which illustrates just how long it takes to set up the Joint Network Node-Network.

The Soldiers, according to Vidaurri, were heading into Baghdad, Iraq, when their node centers were destroyed completely in an explosion. However, they quickly set up the next node center, linked up to the satellite and were able to communicate further up ahead.

"The faster you are able to put up your antennas, your shots, your links; the more lives you are going to save, I feel," Vidaurri said.

JNN-N is a converged tactical communications network providing voice, data and video capability to connect the battalion level Warfighter to areas throughout the world at the quick halt. It's the only network that brings these Internet capabilities to the battlefield.

Warfighters are presently using the JNN-N in theatre during Operation Iraqi Freedom to its fullest capacity, along with the new Army Battle Command Systems equipment, said MAJ Laura Rimmer, of the 1st Cavalry Division.

"It's allowed them to transport more information quicker with the satellite over-the-network to reach the end stations, allowing the units to perform their Command and Control functions in a more efficient manner," Rimmer said.

JNN-N is designed to be a faster and more efficient system than its predecessor, Mobile Subscriber Equipment, she said.

"Soldiers think the new equipment is fantastic," Rimmer said. "It's (comprised of) state-of-the-art commercial-off-the-shelf products. They're learning new tools and new fundamentals. It stretches their brain capacity and gives them a challenge in their shelters in bringing in this network. It's exciting for them to operate this equipment."

Prior to JNN-N, Soldiers had to operate around a cell tower and needed to stay within range to maintain connectivity, said SGT Theodore Miller. Miller works with the JNN Battalion Command Post Node and with Satellite trailers.

"With the JNN, its satellite system and its HCLOS back up, you no longer have to worry about that," Miller said. "You can be in separate areas and still be connected in the same network."

The HCLOS radio program is an upgrade to the tactical line-of-sight transmission assemblages, AN/TRC-190 versions 1-4, to support increased data transmission.

JNN-N and HCLOS are both developed within Project Manager Tactical Radio Communications Systems of the Army's Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications Tactical.

"MSE ... basically screamed out, 'Here I am, Here I am,' to direction finding radio," Miller said. "With the new Battalion Command Post Node and Ku satellite trailers, you transmit directly up into a satellite in space and drop back down, so there's no good way to actually track the location of where you're actually going to be at. It's more of a stealth feature for the satellite equipment. It's harder to track."

The digital systems that exist on the JNN-N, such as Command Post of the Future, provides Commanders with a more current view of the battlefield in real-time, said CPT Glenn Medlock, a Network Engineer and Battle Captain for the 1st Cavalry Division.

JNN-N's increased bandwidth furthers the commander's capability, provides more capability to his S6, and provides additional resources that he can use in order to command the battlefield in a real-time environment, said Medlock.

"JNN-N is designed to support modularity," Medlock said. "By having JNN-N as a piece of the modularity concept, it allows the brigade to actually move out on its own and function in a network operations perspective with an entire network onto itself."

As the modern day Soldier is of the computer generation, Soldiers are already familiar with the JNN-N's equipment through past experience, Medlock said.

"So, I think those Soldiers are adaptable to the new technology that's being put in front of them," he said.

The ABCS that is tied to the network, allows the commander to fight more efficiently and with increased effectiveness, Rimmer said.

"It gives him the capability to bring all the tools into one location, at one time, providing information for him at his fingertips, so that he can make decisions in a moment's notice," she said. "JNN-N provides that capability with all of its assets, using all of the bandwidth that's available, giving him a greater capacity than he's ever had before."

Vidaurri said that acquiring a satellite through the JNN-N, is much faster than it was to do so with the Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal he used in Iraq.

JNN-N lets the Warfighter jump in and out of any system at any time or place, Vidaurri said. It also can be set up in a new location within a reasonable amount of time, he said.

"It's very, very adaptable for the guys out there, because once you're in a hot spot and you need to get something through ... Lets say, you need to get a shot in or something (such as) a new site set up, a relay site, and you're shooting to another node center," Vidaurri said. "You have to get this shot in, just in case the satellite goes out and you need communications. The new systems in the HCLOS will actually get these shots in faster and actually save a lot more lives in the process."