JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - It's hard to overstate just how important good communication is, especially on the battlefield.
In our modern Army, there are a litany of different ways to communicate: computers, cell phones, satellite communications, to name just a few. But, sometimes, it's important to get back to the basics.
As part of a three-day training course, radio transmission operators with 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team spent hours honing their skills on a variety of basic and advanced communication equipment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 6-8.
Radio transmission operators are the vital link between commanders on the battlefield and their higher headquarters and they serve as the communication subject matter experts for their small units.
"We went through the whole spectrum of 'commo' equipment," said Spc. Kevin Goudreau, a Lebanon, Ind., native and radio transmission operator for 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3-2 SBCT.
Although Goudreau is a communication Soldier by trade, many of the other Soldiers assigned to be RTOs for their units are not, making training like this all the more important.
"Some of the people with us, it was new to them, so they learned a lot," he said.
One particularly important part of the training focused on high frequency communication, which allow Soldiers to communicate over vast distances with a relatively minimal amount of equipment.
"The significance of this radio is that you can bounce it off the atmosphere and get long-range shots," said Cpl. Charles Wamsley, a Lacey, Wash., native and communication specialist with 3-2 SBCT.
Wamsley has even heard anecdotes of high frequency radios that, in perfect weather conditions, are able to reach between Afghanistan and Washington, D.C., although communication like that is far beyond their normal mission.
Wamsley mentioned that Soldiers typically use satellite communication equipment when they need to communicate long distances, but the cost of using that equipment is far higher than using a basic high frequency radio.
However, using high frequency radios does require a little additional training in how to properly set up and maintain antennas.
"Any Soldier is capable of doing it with the right training," Wamsley said.
For the Soldiers who took part, this training helped open their eyes to just how important and technical their job can be.
"Being able to communicate in any situation out in battle is very important," Goudraeu said. "Making sure that all the Soldiers can talk is a big deal."
These Soldier will have the chance to test out their newly learned communication skills during upcoming training rotations at Yakima Training Center, Wash., which begin next month.
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