Ohio National Guard Closes Communications Gap in Afghanistan

About 40 Soldiers from the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, pictured here, will provide Joint Node Network communications in Afghanistan. The JNN system will provide the infrastructure for the entire Afghanistan theatre with regular Internet, secure phones, secure Internet and voice teleconferencing capabilities, which has never been done before in Afghanistan. (Photo by Spc. Kimberly Johnson, Illinois National Guard.)

Dispatches from the Front:

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, Nov. 1, 2008 -- The Ohio Army National Guard’s 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is making it’s presence felt in three key areas of Central Command: Kuwait, Iraq and now Afghanistan.

About 40 Soldiers from the brigade have been called in to set up Joint Node Network communications in Afghanistan.

“It’s a very important, high priority mission,” said Col. Richard T. Curry, the brigade commander. “The Soldiers who were selected were selected because of their unique skill set and the training they have accomplished over the last year.”

Currently, the infrastructure cannot support consistent, reliable communications in Afghanistan and hasn’t for quite some time.

Weather and other environmental issues also are wreaking havoc with the systems presently in use.

“Right now, they are not able to call in medical support the way we do in other theatres,” Curry said. “There is a communications gap up there. The biggest part of what we will be able to do is fill in that gap and by doing that, I absolutely believe we will be able to save lives in that theatre of operations.”

The JNN system will provide the infrastructure for the entire Afghanistan theatre with regular Internet, secure phones, secure Internet and voice teleconferencing capabilities, which has never been done before in Afghanistan.

“It comes down to the Army has a need. When there’s a need, our soldiers answer,” said Capt. Walter Work, the Task Force Dragon Blade commander. “We were called to serve and help out our fellow soldiers who are hurting as far as communication assets go.”

During three months of mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas, the signal Soldiers of the 37th exceeded the expectations of their instructors.

“We have proven ourselves,” Work said. “The Soldiers we selected to go are the best of the best. We are honored and definitely taking our ‘A’ team to Afghanistan.”

(Report by Spc. Kimberly Johnson, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.)

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