FORTIS FLASH GERMANY 2006by CPT Lan Dalat

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 1

Issue No: 7 Serving DCM Troops and Families stationed in Naples, Italy

July- September 2006

HAIL & FAREWELL

This quarter, we bid farewell to our soldiers

who had greatly contributed to the success of

this unit. They are SSG Jamie Acosta, SGT

Jason Himel, SPC Leo Bridgewater, SSG

Miguel Rodriguez, SGT Kristal MacKall,

SGT Paul Kruthoff, and SPC Miguel Muniz.

We welcome the following personnel and

their families to this DCM Family: MAJ

Bradley Cullum, SGM Anna Gregory, MSG

Martez Sims, SFC Thaddeus Lumar, SSG An-

thony Cortright, SSG Cody Hand, SSG Rich-

ard Maday, SSG Jonathan McCray, SSG Ta-

neka Perry, SSG Barry Ponce,

(cont. on page 4)

JAVELIN BARRACKS, ELMPT,

GERMANY -- The steadfast, reli-

able, and rapid communications

soldiers from 2nd NATO Signal

Battalion (2NSB) faced off with

new challenges as they ventured

into Germany where they installed,

configured, and tested 2NSB's very

first Limited Interim NATO Re-

sponse Force (NRF) Communica-

tions Information System (CIS)

(LINC) system during the Fortis

Flash Exercise that was held be-

tween 3 - 22 September 2006.

The chief of the LINC crew,

SFC Wyatt Smith gladly accepted

the responsibility to train his crew,

to maintain the new equipment and

to prepare for any deployment in

support of NRF operations and ex-

ercises.

(Cont. on Page 7)

ON GOING MISSIONS

DCM GAZETTE

Front Row: (lf to rt) SSG (P) Andrew Castro, SSG Tom Rickert, SGT (P) Coretta Mar-shall, SPC Cesar Diaz, SGT Rashad Fisher, SGT (P) Van Huoch, SPC Adrian KayBack Row: SGT Christopher McKenna, SGT Steve Ortiz, SFC Walter Twitty, SSG Raul Macias, SFC Wyatt Smith (LINC Chief), SPC Robert Biederman, SFC Samuel Morgan

SSG Pinnock ,SSG Wilson and SPC wood just recently returned from their tour of duty in Iraq. currently, SGT Capers, SGT Davis and SPC Dickenson are in theater performing their mission. Additionaly, three more soldiers will assume new roles for NTM-I.

From 19 April to 22 August 2006, SSG Peter Moulton, SGT Stephen McGowan and SPC Susan Buggell members of the 2NSB DCM supported Operation Joint Guardian at the Film City camp in Pristina, Kosovo

NTM-Iraq

ISAF Afghanistan

MSG Delemar

Team Leader

Five-day notice to move notifica-tion arrived to a group of DCM soldiers from 2NSB was a reality. Within days, the selected soldiers packed their duffle bags, grabbed their weapons, bid farewell to their families and friends and headed off to Afghanistan.

SSG Moulton

TSGT Leader

DCM-A

COMMANDER’S CORNER

It’s almost three years since I first

joined DCM. This unit has changed

so much in three years that it was dif-

ficult for me to phantom its reality.

This DCM was transformed from a

AFSOUTH J3 Exercise communica-

tion support unit to a highly respected worldwide de-

ployable communications unit that could deliver se-

cure voice, data and VTC within 24 hours of hitting

the ground. This Joint DCM also transformed itself

from a 38 troops strength to a full-blown DCM-A un-

der the capable Signal Battalion that being com-

manded by a US Army Signaleer, LTC Bennie Poke-

mire. This unit performed missions worldwide rang-

ing from the Balkans to the Mediterranean Sea, and

from Iraq to Afghanistan. We also supported exer-

cises in Northern Africa, out at sea on an aircraft car-

rier, in the Black Sea, in Germany, in Spain, and now

in Turkey. We have sent our technicians to Moscow,

to London, to Athens, to Madrid and to many other

places. Now, with the newly acquired LINC equip-

ment, this DCM will push our borders even further.

DCM is an Adventure! “FIRST IN, LAST OUT!”

DCM-C

COMMANDER’S CORNER

I would like to take this opportunity

to say how excited I am to be work-

ing with DCM-C and all the person-

nel and their family members of 2nd

NATO Signal Battalion who make

this a great organization. In the past

two months I have observed the operational tempo

this unit is subjected to and have come to the under-

standing those who serve here in Naples are truly

dedicated to the mission and are professional soldiers.

I have personally observed the technical competence

of the LINC team during Steadfast Cathode and am

confident this is the standard throughout the DCM and

the Battalion.

I am joined by my wife Marlene and our three

children; Jordan (daughter 6yrs), Noah (3yrs) and my

youngest daughter Hannah (2yrs). I look forward to

working with you and getting to know you and your

families.

RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 2

Congratulations on your

promotion.

AUG 2006

SFC Walter Twitty

SEP 2006

SFC Alexander Gauna

SSG Miguel Rodriguez

SGT Francis English

PV2 Joel Rodriguez

OCT 2006

SSG Van Huoch

SSG Coretta Marshall

Congratulations to the new

parents:

SGT & Mrs. Weston Goodwin have a baby boy on 17 Sept. 2006. He weigh in at 8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long

SGT & Mrs. Richard Heatherly have a baby girl on 27 September 2006. She weigh in at 8 lbs 6 oz and

20 inches long.

STO

RK

NEW

S

Bradley Cullum

MAJ, SC

Commanders’ Notes

Lan Dalat

CPT, SC

LIMITED INTERIM NRF CAPABILITY (LINC)

INC is NATO’s deployable

communications system that

serves as the gap filler for

the legacy Communications

Gateway System (CGS) and the

modern User Interface Equipment

(UIE) which is a part of the

Capability Package 0A 0149

(CP149).

Unlike the legacy CGS or

the over equipped UIE, the LINC

was designed with modularity and

deployability in

mind. Just like

the CP149's In-

formation Sys-

tem Module

(ISM), all of the

servers used in

the system are

commercial-off-

the-shelf (COTS)

equipment. In

contrast, the

LINC servers are

rack mounted

inside portable

aluminum shock

proof Transport-

able CIS Cases

(TCC) while the ISM is a

building on

wheels.

Out of

the box,

LINC systems

were categorized in

two configurations.

Major Point of Pres-

ence (PoP) LINC

and Minor PoP LINC. The

major PoP was designed to support

a Deployed Joint Task Force

(DJTF) with an approximate of 125

users. The minor PoP was intended

for a smaller element of 25 users

operates outside of the DJTF foot-

print but had requirements to report

and to share information with the

DJTF staff.

Along with its smaller foot-

print, the bandwidth for the LINC

reduced significantly. The Deploy-

able Satellite Ground Terminal

(DSGT) (See figure 1).played a

critical role for the LINC to have

reach back capability from any-

where in the world. The DSGT

was programmed to transmit and

receive at 512 Kbs instead of 2048

Kbs like its larger predecessor Tri-

band Satellite Ground Terminal

(TSGT).

The unique characteristic of

the LINC is modularity and scal-

ability. Like Lego's building

bricks, LINC could be

built and config-

ured to support

the dy-

namic

changes

within

NRF op-

erations. It

could be

reconfig-

ured to

increase or

decrease

the number of telephones and com-

puters require-

ments. Even

though LINC

maintained an

Interim status

within NATO, its

success will trig-

ger changes for

the future devel-

opment of de-

ployable com-

munications

technology.

01100101

01101110

01100100

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 3

Two tents join together as part of LINC 07 equipment; Fiat Ducato cargo !an; Servers insta"ed in TCC

Figure 2. LINC equipment setup inside tent

L

Figure 1. the DSGT in

Tx/Rx configuration.

Written & Photo by

CPT Lan Dalat

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 4

DCM Troops in ActionAround the World

SSG Peter Moulton (TSGT Team Leader)(right), SFC Edward Wuepper (3rd from left) and SPC Susan Buggell (2nd from left) share a moment with their colleague at Film City, Pristina, Kosovo between 19 April through 22 August 2006 in support COMKFOR.

SSG Richard Wilson (right) and Mr. Jawad work together on an IT project at the NATO HQ in Al Rustamiyah, Iraq

SGT Robert Downing serves as the System Administrator for more than 42 servers on three separate network that provided secure data exchange for the ISAF and NATO staff in Afghanistan.

SSG Derek Gunn represents 2NSB as the senior technician during the final NATO - Russia Communication Exercise AAR in Moscow, Russia between July 10 - 14 2006

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 5

SGT Ortiz (left) and SGT Fisher prepare to unload one of the LINC vans full of communications equipment at Javelin Barracks, Germany during 2NSB Fortis Flash Ex-ercise 2006

The LINC 03 crew unloads TCCs from one of the three Fiat Ducato cargo vans in Elmpt, Germany.

SSG Macias (left) and SSG Castro carry the 1.5 Kva un-interupted power supply (UPS) into the tent during the setup phase of LINC 03 which is a Major Point of Pres-ence communication equipment.

SGT McKenna places the 3.0 Kva UPS in the tent as part of the initial setup to determine space and security management.

SFC Frederick Clayton checks his watch to ensure the formation is formed prior to the promotion ceremony in front of building I2 at JFC Naples, Bagnoli, Italy.

Coretta Marshall stands tall and proud as her husband places the hooked Staff Sergeant rank on her new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in Naples, Italy.

The Chief of Signal from the Russian Federation awarded SPC Robert Biederman and SPC Brendan Howard for their outstanding technical support to the Russian Forces during NATO - Rus-sia Commex 06 in Baum-holder, Germany

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 6

(Cont. from the front page)

SGT Robert Blihovde, SGT Christopher Conyers,

SGT Jessie Darrett, SGT Damion Fugate, SGT

David Goode, SGT Richard Heatherly, SGT

Timothy Jennings, SGT Kendra Mascoll, SGT

Raphiel McCormick, SGT Jorge Ramos, SGT

Daniel Sheffield, SPC Diana Delgadillo and

SPC Elizabeth Waggoneer

SGT Richard Heatherly (25L20) has been selected as the NCO of the Quarter for A Company, US Army NATO Regional Command South Battalion in Naples, Italy.

SPC Daniel Castillo (25R10) was selected as the Soldier of the Quarter for A Co. US Army NATO Regional Command South Battalion in Naples, Italy

For their outstanding mission sup-port, the following personnel has been awarded Defense MedalsSSG Peter Moulton DMSMSGT Stephen McGowan JSCMSPC Susan Buggel, JSCMSFC Donald Chausse JSAMSFC Edward Wuepper JSAM

Thank you for the job well done!

RECOGNITIONSACHIEVEMENTS

SPECIAL THANKS TO AN OUTSTANDING LEADER

SSG Ronnie Grubbs

Thank you for your hardwork, genuin# dedication, compassionate and re$n# leadership to ensure your troops are car# for and mission accomplishment. W# %i" miss your work ethic and commi&'ment to this unit.Best wishes to you and your family!

New Personnel

Benvenuti a Bella Napoli!

NCO / SOLDIER OF THE QUARTER

Great job on achieving the Good

Conduct Medal

SSG Kristal McKall

SGT Berndette Langford

SGT Patrick Davis

SGT Gerald Jeffcoat

SPC Susan Buggell

SPC Robert Biederman

SPC Jesus Deleon

SPC George Wood

SPC Charlotte Cluff

FORTIS FLASH GERMANY

(Cont. )om the Front Page*

by CPT Lan Dala&The LINC crew comprised of 14 sol-diers in various specialties. Three sol-diers with satellite transmission skill were selected to operate the Deploy-able Satellite Ground Ter-minal (DSGT). Three sol-diers with telecommunica-tion specialties were se-lected to install and config-ure the Bandwidth Man-agement Equipment (BME) and Public Automated Branch Exchange (PABX). Four soldiers with computer automation skill were tasked to train and operate the servers and some auto-mation help desk opera-tions. One soldier was chosen to fab-ricate and install cable infrastructure for the LINC. One soldier with back-ground in Communication Security was identified to handle all Crypto-

graphic equipment with an alternate responsibility as the Video Telecom-munications (VTC) technician. Fi-nally, one soldier served as the power generator mechanic.

Along with 2NSB staff, SFC Smith developed a schedule for his crew to perform while deployed away from their home station in Naples, Italy. During the first week, the crew re-

ceived individual training on equip-ment associated to their MOS. There were individual courses that tailored to each of the following LINC equip-ment: Promina 400, a Bandwidth

Management Equipment (BME); Siemen HiPath, a Pub-lic Automated Branch Ex-change (PABX); RAD mo-dems; Telenor's Deployable Satellite Ground Terminal (DSGT); HP servers; Airshelter tents; Air conditioning system and other associated equipment to make the LINC fully opera-tional.

Upon completion of their ar-duous individual training pro-

gram, SFC Smith put the crew to the test. Between 11 and 17 September 2006, 14 soldiers deployed together as a LINC crew to the former Royal Air Force's airfield on the northeastern

side of Javelin Barracks in Germany. Prior to midday, the crew inflated their Airshelter tents on a flat tarmac surface, tiled the floors with plastic snap-on tiles, and in-stalled the air condition-ing system. In the after-noon, the LINC crew

worked in a concerted effort to manually move the entire commercial off the shelf (COTS) com-munications equip-ment that was in-

stalled inside a rugge-dized and shock proof aluminum tran-sit case inside the tent with an average weight of 50 Kg each. According to a NATO Unclassified document, these cases are formerly known as Trans-portable CIS Cases (TCC). By sunset, the LINC crew erected two tents, rearranged the TCCs several times to meet Information Se-curity guideline and J2's se-curity directives. For the next several days, the crew continued to fine-tune their

LINC configurations with proper power requirements, Communications

Security (COMSEC) requirements, and technical requirements. At the same time, the crew drafted their initial standard operating proce-dures (SOP) and lessons learned. At the end of each day, SFC Smith gathered all of his soldiers for an after action review (AAR). They used the forum to capture all positive and nega-tive encounters during their LINC in-stallation.

On 18 September 2006, with much anticipation and preparation, the LINC began to transmit their beacons into the NATO Core Network (NCN). DSGT's section leader, SSG Andrew Castro established connection through his DSGT to a designated

(Cont. on Page 8)

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 7

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCT 06:

TACSAT Install / Transfer, Naples, IT

Steadfast Cathode, Istanbul, TU

NOV 06:

Steadfast JAW, Istanbul, TU

TACSAT Transfer, Scotland

DEC 06:

LINC 03 and LINC 07 Training

TACSAT DAMA Fielding and Training

SFC Wyatt Smith

LINC 03 Chief

Transportable CIS Case (TCC)

BME/PABX equipment

FORTIS FLASH GERMANY(Cont. from page 7)

NATO strategic satellite ground

terminal (SGT). At first, they were

able to have satellite access but un-

able to have nodal connectivity.

The DSGT crew worked long hours

to reconfigure their modem set-

tings, and troubleshoot their down-

link and up-link set-

tings. Through hard

work and dedication,

the DSGT finally es-

tablished satellite link-

age with the SGT via

the consortium X-band

satellite. Immediately,

their counterpart, the

BME section kicked

into high gear with

great determination to

have nodal connectivity with NCN.

Now, it was the battle that the

BME/PABX crew had to fight.

They fought hard and won. By the

end of the first day, they connected

their BME to NCN for FORTIS

FLASH Exercise. While the Com-

munications crew providing voice

services through their Siemen Hi-

Path, the Information System crew

made few final configurations on

their domain servers. They had not

yet connected to the network but

anticipated the task with minimum

difficulties. As it turned out, the

crew did not administrative rights

for the system. This ceased pro-

gress for the LINC Crew. The

problem was raised up to SHAPE.

Within two days, the LINC ob-

tained proper admin rights with the

helps from the battalion com-

mander and his staff. They con-

nected their servers to NATO In-

formation System Gateway at pre-

determined servers in Italy. With

precision and accuracies, the sol-

diers met their objectives by suc-

cessfully tested voice communica-

tions and information exchange

services using their newly assigned

LINC 03 that was designed to sup-

port a major point of presence such

as the Deployed Joint Task Force

(DJTF).

After receiving orders

from their commander

to end the exercise

(ENDEX), the LINC

crew called SHAPE

network control center

to request for links clo-

sure authorization. On

the evening of 21 Sep-

tember, the crew de-

installed all CIS

equipment and packed

them into their three assigned Fiat

Ducato 4x4 cargo vans. SFC

Smith and his crew returned to their

home station in Naples, Italy only

to get ready for their next deploy-

ment to Istanbul, Turkey in support

of Steadfast Cathode Exercise.

.

ACTION IN IRAQ (NTM-I)

SSG Richard Wilson and SPC

George Wood provided over 4,000

hours of uninterrupted email and

radio communications to the NTM-

I FWD HQ, JSC, and Satellite fa-

cilities on FOB Al Rustamiyah.

In addition, they served as

Training Cadre to a Joint Staff Col-

lege Command Post Exercise

(CPX), where they worked with

Iraqi personnel to solve end user IT

problems and provided backbone

communications at the DIV, BRIG,

and BDE levels

SSG Wilson also supervised

the installation of a project to

renovate the entire NTMI-

FWD at Al Rustamiyah. The

overhaul include all IT infra-

structure, all new servers,

switches, routers, phone sys-

tems, and satellite communica-

tions system.

The team troubleshot

and supported over 400 end

user machines, while providing

4,000 hours of up time during

their tenure.

DEPLOYABLE COMMUNICATIONS MODULE, SECOND NATO SIGNAL BATTALION

“First In, Last Out!”!! ! ! ! NATO UNCLASSIFIED! ! ! ! ! ! Page 8

LINC 03 at Javelin Barracks, Germany

SSG Richard Wilson (right) and SPC George Wood (left) join an Italian col-league for a photo at the NATO Head-quarters in Al Rustamiyah, Iraq