Posted on 12/15/2004 4:43:58 PM PST by SandRat
Tech Ed Flourishes in Battle Zone
3rd Signal Brigade in Iraq establishes Baghdad Signal University.
by Maj. Kenneth L. Cypher, USA
The soldiers who are fighting to keep networks up and running in support of operation Iraqi Freedom have a new weapon in their arsenal: Baghdad Signal University. Established by the 3rd Signal Brigade at Camp Victory, Iraq, the Multinational Corps-Iraq (MNC-I) tactical data network training facility allows MNC-I soldiers and civilians to learn to operate and troubleshoot network devices in the face of a tactical data network and strategic network that rapidly changes.
The first class at Baghdad Signal University (BSU) took place in April 2004, only 105 days after the brigade arrived in Iraq. Since then, more than 350 students have graduated. The university classes are taught Monday through Friday every week, regardless of the threat level. Soldiers, civilian contractors and coalition forces are flown in from all around the Iraqi theater to participate in the classes.
The university was the brainchild of four soldiers who also helped make it a reality. The 3rd Signal Brigade’s System Support Team acquired a deserted, dilapidated building and created a first-class training room with a hands-on data laboratory. With the assistance of two C6 Cisco-certified Internet engineers, two Communications-Electronics Command logistical assistance representatives, one General Dynamics representative and several members of the brigade, a diverse curriculum was developed that includes student texts. The classes range from basic and advanced routing to Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) and Tropospheric Scatter Radio (TROPO) operations. Specialized classes, such as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and asynchronous transfer mode operations, have been developed upon request from a unit.
The basic networking course offers an introduction to transmission control protocol/Internet protocol over Ethernet networks and is designed for soldiers with little or no networking experience. Students who attend the basic course learn techniques and network technologies that are implemented at the access layer of the data network and enhance their capabilities to support the subscriber at the network-entry level.
The advanced networking course is designed to expand the knowledge of soldiers who have some experience with data networks, including distribution layer technologies. Students who attend the advanced course learn the techniques and network technologies used to connect the local area network and provide entry to the core level.
Several other courses have been offered at BSU as specialty classes where signal soldiers and civilians learn about implementation, operations and maintenance of TROPO, SMART-T and VoIP. When requested by the ground forces commanders, weekend and evening overview courses have been offered on occasion for leaders and supervisors. Guest instructors and subject matter experts are encouraged to offer guidance in their areas of expertise. Several organizations and agencies, including those that helped start the university, contribute time and expertise, which has contributed to the overall success of the university.
The sustainment and developmental results from the training are evident. Network outage or trouble reports are provided to the organizational network operations security centers with much greater clarity. Units are resolving outages locally. Commanders’ communications organizational readiness rates in the extremely high operational environment are well above expectations at 95 percent.
The success of the university also has been noticed in other areas. Commanders’ reliance on the data networks has been greater during this operation than in any other operational deployment. In combat zones, commanders have had such confidence in the data network that currently two brigade combat teams and one division headquarters communicate exclusively on the data network with VoIP and collaborative information tools. Commanders attribute much of the stability success of the network to the BSU curriculum.
In addition to enhancing the knowledge of MNC-I soldiers and civilians, the BSU data laboratory is being used by the multinational corps engineers and the signal brigade’s network operations center to test new network configurations prior to implementation, model network peculiarities, model proposed management changes and troubleshoot unique problems. This allows for a methodical thought process to prevent operational service interruptions.
The BSU’s experimental network laboratory and first-rate training environment assist in providing the operational commanders with the reliable data networks required to execute missions.
Maj. Kenneth L. Cypher, USA, is an engineer with the 3rd Signal Brigade serving in operation Iraqi Freedom.
In front of Baghdad Signal University are System Support Team members (l-r) Sgt. 1st Class Jeff King, USA; Staff Sgt. Victor Britton, USA; Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Rinehart, USA; and Sgt. 1st Class Mark Hredzak, USA.
bump
Tech WOT battle
Maj. Cypher....that's kinda funny.....
Combat geeks. It was only a matter of time...
Does this not remind you of the old University of Maryland Extension Schools? So prevalent in "my day" (our day?)?
It does remind me though of Field Manual 45A, which was an amplification of DefTac 357C, rooted in SubLin915 (FSN 368736849876).
Thanks for the ping!
Bump!
Ee-Yay-UP!
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