Crisis communication made easy

By Staff Sgt. Jennifer C. Johnson JFHQ-NCR/MDW Public AffairsMay 15, 2013

Crisis communication made easy
Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington commanding general, and Col. Clyde E. Richards, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems project manag... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Communicating during a crisis just became easier in the Nation's Capital thanks to state of the art equipment provided by the Program Executive Office Electronic Information Systems (PEO-EIS) command.

The delivery of the last two manufactured Combat Service Support, Very Small Aperture Terminals (CSS VSAT) to the U.S. Army was to the Joint Force Headquarters -- National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and highlighted by a ceremony held at Fort Lesley J. McNair, May 7.

According to the CSS VSAT operating manual the system is a satellite communications system designed to provide worldwide data and voice communications connectivity to users possessing little or no satellite communications training.

"The CSS VSAT provides the JFHQ-NCR/MDW logistics communication capability for everyday and contingency operations," said Maj. Charlie Fisher, JFHQ-NCR/MDW J4 Logistics Planner. "This is a vital entity for our organization in the NCR. It will give us up to 20 miles of wireless internet during an unforeseen event."

The CSS VSAT system is to provide Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) access by means of satellite to CSS users almost anywhere in the world.

PEO-EIS provided users at JFHQ-NCR/MDW a two-week training class in April on how to secure, transport, install, connect and perform each separate part of the system.

"This ceremony is to mark the end of the PEO-EIS fielding for the U.S. Army," said Fisher. "The system will help provide operations for our organization and our interagency partners if needed."

Related Links:

Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

Program Executive Office Enterprise Information System website