509th Operations in Northern Iraq

One day after paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade made their March 26 jump into Northern Iraq, a team from the 509th Signal Battalion arrived and began establishing communications.

"We set up as soon as possible because communications is key to survival in a tactical environment," said 1LT Kursteen Nelson, officer-in-charge of the Command and Control Force Enhancement Module communications package.

In just four hours Nelson's 12-member C2FEM package was set up and providing vital support for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 173rd paratroopers, who had just made the first U.S. combat airborne drop since Operation Just Cause in Panama, now had communications on the ground in Iraq.

"Without communications, you're just flapping in the breeze," said SSG Bobby O'Mara, automations noncommissioned officer-in-charge, 173rd Airborne Brigade. "I place it at No. 1 in importance. We can now communicate with higher echelons."

The support the C2FEM provided included secure and non-secure Internet protocol router networks, Defense Switched Network lines and video teleconferencing capability. With the ability to communicate with warfighters on the ground, higher commands could continue battlefield operations in Northern Iraq.

"Getting that connection in saves lives," said SPC Avery Costner, C2FEM information systems specialist. "Commanders can make decisions and communicate on the links we provide. The better we can communicate, the better we are as a fighting force."

Along with the 173rd, the C2FEM is supporting a number of other units deployed to Northern Iraq, including the 2/15th Field Artillery, the 4th Infantry Division and the 201st Forward Support Battalion.

The package has not only been providing tactical communications, but was also able to set up a temporary Internet cafe for soldiers to communicate with family and friends during the deployment.

"That was a big morale booster," said SSG O'Mara.

Soldiers deployed in Iraq have had to contend with difficult conditions. The package has had to contend with sandstorms, muddy conditions and oppressive heat. They even had to move from their tents to bunkers because of the extreme temperatures. So far, they've subsisted on rations and meals-ready-to-eat.

Despite the harsh environment, Nelson said the package has done an outstanding job in coming together as a team and making the mission a success.

"Considering the living conditions, (the soldiers) have kept a good attitude," she said. "They've worked well together and learned what it means to be a team player--not just within the package, but with other units, too. When you work as a team, things happen."

CPT Christine Stevens, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 509th Signal Battalion, said the team has done a great job supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. "Everyone is very proud of them," she said. "They're doing an amazing job."

Soldiers getting C2FEM support on the ground attested to the 509th effort. "The 509th has given us seamless communications," said SSG O'Mara. "They work wonders."

ACRONYM QUICKSCAN

C2FEM--Control Force Enhancement Module

MREs--meals-ready-to-eat

SGT Fitzgerald is currently the Public Affairs NCOIC for the 7th Signal Brigade in Mannheim, Germany. He has served as a journalist at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Fitzgerald was named Department of the Army and Department of Defense Print Journalist of the Year in 2000.

COPYRIGHT 2003 U.S. Army Signal Center
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group