thedrifter
02-20-09, 07:13 AM
Exercise keeps 7th Communication Battalion Marines ready to deploy
2/20/2009 By Lance Cpl. Paul D. Zellner , Marine Corps Bases Japan
OKINAWA, Japan —Approximately 20 Marines from Company B, 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in a refresher course at the communications warehouse on Camp Hansen Feb. 5.
“The exercise was designed to refresh their memory and provide some advanced training,” said Gunnery Sgt. Richard Long, a technical control engineer with 7th Communications Battalion and instructor for the exercise.
Marines got hands-on experience with the FCC-100 and MRC-142A equipment. This equipment is initially introduced to the Marines in military occupation specialty school.
“Between deployments, duty and all their other responsibilities they don’t get a chance to focus on the individual equipment this much,” said Long.
The FCC-100 is a 16-port multiplexer used to process all communications such as internet, telephone and intelligence networks into one bundle called an aggregate.
The aggregate can be sent up to 30 miles away using the MRC-142A. The MRC-142A is a multi-channel radio transmitter that sends information using UHF line of sight antennas.
As long as the antennas are within 30 miles and are facing each other, both sides can communicate no matter the conditions, Long said.
Equipped with transmission security encrypting technology the messages relayed between senders can not be de-encrypted by enemy forces.
“Even if they do intercept it they would need to get by the encryption which is highly unlikely,” said Long.
Long instructed the Marines as they set up communications between two humvee’s in the parking lot.
“We definitely needed a refresher and the exercise went over everything we should know,” said Cpl. Shammis Hannon, the company MRC-142 chief with Company B, 7th Communications Bn. “This should put us all on the same level and keep us ready,” he said.
Ellie
2/20/2009 By Lance Cpl. Paul D. Zellner , Marine Corps Bases Japan
OKINAWA, Japan —Approximately 20 Marines from Company B, 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force participated in a refresher course at the communications warehouse on Camp Hansen Feb. 5.
“The exercise was designed to refresh their memory and provide some advanced training,” said Gunnery Sgt. Richard Long, a technical control engineer with 7th Communications Battalion and instructor for the exercise.
Marines got hands-on experience with the FCC-100 and MRC-142A equipment. This equipment is initially introduced to the Marines in military occupation specialty school.
“Between deployments, duty and all their other responsibilities they don’t get a chance to focus on the individual equipment this much,” said Long.
The FCC-100 is a 16-port multiplexer used to process all communications such as internet, telephone and intelligence networks into one bundle called an aggregate.
The aggregate can be sent up to 30 miles away using the MRC-142A. The MRC-142A is a multi-channel radio transmitter that sends information using UHF line of sight antennas.
As long as the antennas are within 30 miles and are facing each other, both sides can communicate no matter the conditions, Long said.
Equipped with transmission security encrypting technology the messages relayed between senders can not be de-encrypted by enemy forces.
“Even if they do intercept it they would need to get by the encryption which is highly unlikely,” said Long.
Long instructed the Marines as they set up communications between two humvee’s in the parking lot.
“We definitely needed a refresher and the exercise went over everything we should know,” said Cpl. Shammis Hannon, the company MRC-142 chief with Company B, 7th Communications Bn. “This should put us all on the same level and keep us ready,” he said.
Ellie