Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson meets with 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division signal Soldiers in front of the Satellite Transportable Terminal during Reception, Staging and Onward Integration at JRTC, Fort Polk.

FORT POLK, La. — Readiness, training and field support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems were key topics of discussion as U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command senior leaders traveled to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk this month.

Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson, CECOM commanding general, led the visit with the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, which was on a training rotation at JRTC. He was joined by CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Kristie Brady and Liz Miranda, director of the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center.

Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson met with CECOM field support personnel for open dialogue on how CECOM can improve C5ISR support operations.

Kicking off the initial meeting with various support organizations at JRTC, Edmonson emphasized the importance of training and readiness to the division, as the 1st BCT could receive an order for emergency deployment at any time. He also discussed how CECOM is actively contributing to both strategic and tactical readiness as well as unit supply and training.

In the discussion on logistics that followed, Lt. Col. Mike Hannah, 404th Army Field Support Brigade Logistics Support Team Chief, discussed how numerous organizations come together to support the rotational unit at JRTC. The work begins with the Army Field Support Battalion at Fort Drum, the home of the 10th Mountain Division, deploying a Division Logistics Support Element to JRTC that includes technical representatives from CECOM, Army Sustainment Command, Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Aviation and Missile Command and more. The DLSE receives equipment packages from the home station and prepositions as much equipment as possible for unit arrival. The DLSE concept is relatively new and provides more flexibility for the division to set priorities, flex the battalion, and see the big picture.

Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson presents a coin to Sgt. Justin Abel, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th MTN DIV, for exceptional problem solving on High Capacity Line of Sight Radios and Transportable Tactical Command Communications Systems in support of the brigade’s rotation at JRTC, Fort Polk.

The leadership team then met with CECOM field support representatives for open dialogue. Jim Duxbury, CECOM lead system technical representative for the 10th Mountain Division, presented a CECOM support overview and breakdown of key signal system readiness over time. Duxbury outlined some of the extensive training activities CECOM has been conducting with the 10th Mountain Division, such as on intelligence, electronic warfare and radar platforms. Following a question and answer session, Edmonson thanked the field support team for their hard work and emphasized that Soldier training was critically important, as field support personnel may not be available to fix problems during large-scale combat operations.

This visit also allowed Edmonson to present coins to Sgt. Justin Abel and Spc. Joseph Benoit from the 7th Engineer Battalion, part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, for their exceptional problem solving on High Capacity Line of Sight Radios, Transportable Tactical Command Communications Systems and Satellite Transportable Terminals.

Maj. Gen. Edmonson presents a coin to Spc. Joseph Benoit, 7th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th MTN DIV, for exceptional support to the Satellite Transportable Terminal during the brigade’s rotation at JRTC, Fort Polk.

In a final meeting with divisional leadership, Lt. Col. Chris Green, 10th Mountain Division G-6, outlined his desire for the G-6 to be more involved in maintenance and training of C5ISR equipment. He noted how training and supply are tied to unit readiness and shared his appreciation for everything CECOM does to maintain the division’s C5ISR readiness. Edmonson acknowledged and said CECOM leaders would continue to visit units in the field and at their headquarters to ensure the command understands and addresses all pressing C5ISR issues.