ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- The Directorate of Information Management is undergoing a massive network upgrade that is being felt installation-wide.
The Network Modernization -- Continental United States, or NETMOD-C, project, which began last month, is currently being implemented by the Army.
As federal budgets get smaller, the Army is initiating action to offset budget drawdowns.
According to Undersecretary of the Army Brad Carson, "These are difficult times in the defense budget, and the Army is having to prioritize everything, but modernization of the network is among the very highest priorities."
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno reiterated the importance of modernizing the network by outlining Army requirements. To meet these requirements, the Army developed LandWarNet 2025, a blueprint of where Army modernization is needed to be successful.
Establishing a single end-to-end network; modernizing from strategic core to the tactical edge; deploying with limited notice anytime, anywhere, in any environment; the ability to provide live/virtual/constructive training; incorporating Department of Defense requirements; and standardizing network operations and management form the foundation of this monumental effort.
In addition to improving connectivity and capabilities, network modernization is expected to reduce costs and make Army IT more environmentally friendly by reducing the infrastructure footprint and introducing more energy efficient components.
What does this mean for us here in Anniston? Actually a great deal.
First, let's talk about security.
Army networks are probed millions of times each day. Cybersecurity has taken a front seat in IT. In the past, the Army focused on bigger, better, faster, more efficient networks and IT services. Today, this has changed. The Army has committed to protecting its assets.
With this upgrade, efficiency and speed are also factored into the IT equation.
In the past, ANAD's network maintained an internal speed of 1 Gigabyte.
With the implementation of NETMOD-C here this month, we will realize an internal speed of 10 Gigabytes.
Along with additional internal bandwidth the Army is continuing a policy of regionalization and consolidation.
Smaller, local Army networks are being consolidated into larger, regionalized networks.
This will provide additional redundancy to local services, resulting in less network downtime and outages.
I am sure you have noticed the young Soldiers and DOIM employees installing this equipment throughout the depot.
The equipment is the latest and greatest Cisco components, running the latest operating systems and functioning on a more fluid, redundant network.
The Soldiers are part of a team from the 106th Signal Brigade from Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
The team is assisted by numerous members of the ANAD DOIM team, including Jason Gilbert, Kendell Marbury, Bruce Ellis, Patrick Quinn, Doug Powers, John Hughes, Tom Clay, Ryon Jones, Michael Sanders, Michael Boling, Robert McGee, Heath Clark, Paul Fetner, Sheila Molleur, Crystal Ray, Michael Pettus, Iris Clark, Jimmy Futrelle, Doug Gunnoe, Geoff Freeland and Tracy Mastin.
This is the first phase of a massive IT infrastructure upgrade at ANAD. The actual network installs should be completed by the end of April.
DOIM will also be installing several thousand new workstations, zero clients and tough-books throughout the depot.
DOIM is also undertaking a printer project, which will result in more centralization of printers with multi-function device installs.
After that is a new wireless network installation.
This will be a busy year for DOIM. By the end of the calendar year, when all this is behind us, DOIM would like to thank you, the customers at ANAD, for your patience, understanding and kindness throughout this process.
As you know, most of these actions are mandated by TACOM, Army Materiel Command, Signal, Defense Information Systems Agency and even the Department of the Army. It takes a great deal of effort to maintain compliance and fulfill their requirements. DOIM sincerely appreciates our customer base.
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