thedrifter
12-26-03, 05:49 AM
11th MEU first to receive NMCI suite
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification Number: 20031224105741
Story by Cpl. Derrick A. Small
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Dec. 15, 2003) -- The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit received the first computer for the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) here, Dec. 15, in what is the Corps' first step in the physical transition to a new way of networking.
The MEU is slated to get an additional 89 laptops with NMCI capabilities within the week.
According to Maj. Richard D. Zyla,
communications officer, S-6, 11th MEU, the
MEU was the first to receive the gear because the scheduled transition from the current Marine Corps Enterprise Network to NMCI next year interfered with the unit’s work-up cycle.
Since the transition to NMCI would be difficult to undergo when the MEU was knee deep in training, NMCI computers are being fielded to MEU members now. However, the computers will not be put on the NMCI network until the unit returns from their upcoming six-month deployment to the U.S. Central and Pacific areas of responsibility, he said.
While big changes are ahead, there won’t be a lot of changes to how Marine Corps personnel operate the network, said Sgt. Marc A. Rudolf, data chief, S-6, 11th MEU.
Instead, there are many benefits that personnel will experience as a result of NMCI.
“For users, everything will be standardized,” Rudolf said, noting that computers will be periodically upgraded with the latest software and upgrades. Since printers will be networked with NMCI, the need to have one computer dedicated to printing is eliminated.
In addition, NMCI enables Marines to access their email from any Marine Corps base in the continental United States. Instead of changing email addresses every time a Marine moves to a new duty station, they’ll carry one email address their entire Marine Corps career, Zyla said.
In addition, Marine Corps and Navy personnel will share the same address book for emailing purposes, he added.
According to 1st Lt. Joe D. Blocker, assistant communications officer, S-6, 11th MEU, the new network run by Electronic Data Systems Corporation will increase manpower in field environments.
“The network allows for better personnel management,” Blocker said. “Instead of allocating Marines to run the computer network at base, these Marines will go back to the fleet."
However, this can pose some challenges for Marines in the data field since NMCI workers will troubleshoot the garrison network, Rudolf said.
“(New data) Marines won’t learn much about troubleshooting problems and basic day-to-day network malfunctions (in garrison),” he said. “For data Marines, it will be hands off.”
In a different light, networking in the field will remain unscathed for data Marines, who will be responsible for providing network services while deployed.
“The tactical environment isn’t affected at all,” Zyla said.
The MEU will not connect to the NMCI server until the MEU returns from their upcoming deployment since the NMCI server has not been completed, Rudolf said.
“(But) when we return, only NMCI will be available,” Rudolf said. “Although email and log-on capabilities will still be available, Marines will have to share computers when using the Intranet.”
The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is scheduled to be in full operation by December 2004.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DD125520B883221E85256E060057AE14?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification Number: 20031224105741
Story by Cpl. Derrick A. Small
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Dec. 15, 2003) -- The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit received the first computer for the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) here, Dec. 15, in what is the Corps' first step in the physical transition to a new way of networking.
The MEU is slated to get an additional 89 laptops with NMCI capabilities within the week.
According to Maj. Richard D. Zyla,
communications officer, S-6, 11th MEU, the
MEU was the first to receive the gear because the scheduled transition from the current Marine Corps Enterprise Network to NMCI next year interfered with the unit’s work-up cycle.
Since the transition to NMCI would be difficult to undergo when the MEU was knee deep in training, NMCI computers are being fielded to MEU members now. However, the computers will not be put on the NMCI network until the unit returns from their upcoming six-month deployment to the U.S. Central and Pacific areas of responsibility, he said.
While big changes are ahead, there won’t be a lot of changes to how Marine Corps personnel operate the network, said Sgt. Marc A. Rudolf, data chief, S-6, 11th MEU.
Instead, there are many benefits that personnel will experience as a result of NMCI.
“For users, everything will be standardized,” Rudolf said, noting that computers will be periodically upgraded with the latest software and upgrades. Since printers will be networked with NMCI, the need to have one computer dedicated to printing is eliminated.
In addition, NMCI enables Marines to access their email from any Marine Corps base in the continental United States. Instead of changing email addresses every time a Marine moves to a new duty station, they’ll carry one email address their entire Marine Corps career, Zyla said.
In addition, Marine Corps and Navy personnel will share the same address book for emailing purposes, he added.
According to 1st Lt. Joe D. Blocker, assistant communications officer, S-6, 11th MEU, the new network run by Electronic Data Systems Corporation will increase manpower in field environments.
“The network allows for better personnel management,” Blocker said. “Instead of allocating Marines to run the computer network at base, these Marines will go back to the fleet."
However, this can pose some challenges for Marines in the data field since NMCI workers will troubleshoot the garrison network, Rudolf said.
“(New data) Marines won’t learn much about troubleshooting problems and basic day-to-day network malfunctions (in garrison),” he said. “For data Marines, it will be hands off.”
In a different light, networking in the field will remain unscathed for data Marines, who will be responsible for providing network services while deployed.
“The tactical environment isn’t affected at all,” Zyla said.
The MEU will not connect to the NMCI server until the MEU returns from their upcoming deployment since the NMCI server has not been completed, Rudolf said.
“(But) when we return, only NMCI will be available,” Rudolf said. “Although email and log-on capabilities will still be available, Marines will have to share computers when using the Intranet.”
The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is scheduled to be in full operation by December 2004.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/DD125520B883221E85256E060057AE14?opendocument
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: