COMMEX validates 2nd IBCT for signals readiness

By CourtesyMay 11, 2016

COMMEX validates 2nd IBCT for signals readiness
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division read manuals on installing dish receivers at a brigade communication exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga., May 4, 2016. The exercise validates the brigade's readiness to complete the missio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
COMMEX validates 2nd IBCT for signals readiness
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier of 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division sets up a dish receiver at a brigade communication exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga., May 4, 2016. The exercise validates the brigade's readiness ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

By Pfc. Payton Wilson, 1-30th Inf., 2nd IBCT UPAR

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Soldiers of 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division held a communications exercise at Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 4.

Soldiers of 2nd IBCT, set up a tactical operation center to validate equipment and mission readiness.

"This exercise is important to ensure mission readiness is always 100 percent, as well as a great training opportunity for signal Soldiers across the brigade," said Capt. Veronica Kyle, officer in charge of the brigade COMMEX. "This also serves as a chance to test and validate all command control and mission command systems across the brigade."

The COMMEX is held quarterly and keeps soldiers proficient in the various communications systems needed for the brigade, according to Kyle. She added that each battalion has their own role in maintaining the brigade's readiness.

"The teamwork and camaraderie that the brigade showed each other for the few issues that did arise shows how the signaleers in the brigade came together to help each other get past these problems," said Kyle.

Each battalion had prerequisites to accomplish during the exercise.

"We are out here to provide services to our brigade tactical operation center and also to validate our team in their ability to provide communications at a long distance," said Capt. Matthew Downham, network communications officer for 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment.

For the signal Soldiers that are a part of 1-30th Inf., it is important that they train monthly to remain mission ready.

"We are the only signal personnel in our battalion. It is great to be out here with other signal [Soldier]," said Downham. "We get good training seeing how other battalions do their maintenance and how they upkeep their equipment."