TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Team Tobyhanna is a crucial component of the Army's strategy to stand up six brigades that will deploy around the world to train foreign allies.
Depot personnel are integrating and testing C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) equipment on hundreds of armored fighting vehicles assigned to the new Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB). The first unit was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia. The buildup of another SFAB is underway at Fort Drum, New York.
The new units will enhance Army readiness by reducing demand for existing brigade combat teams (BCT) to conduct security force assistance operations. According to senior Army officials, SFAB develops the capability and capacity of partnered security forces by conducting security force assistance activities to strengthen host government ability to defend itself from external and internal threats.
"This is a huge collaborative effort," said Sean Namlick, chief of the Production Management Directorate's Communications, Command and Control Project Management Branch. "Communication between all the organizations, which includes the Army Materiel and Communications Electronics (CECOM) commands, is excellent. Everyone is working well together."
A number of Tobyhanna's electronics technicians, field service engineers and electronics mechanics are or will be participating in short-term temporary duty assignments at various Army installations.
Depot officials need personnel to install integration kits and equipment for Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems, Blue Force Tracking and Harris radios into various platforms, including Humvees, wreckers, and mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) all-terrain and Family of Medium Tactical vehicles. Logistics Management Specialist Frank Babarsky said volunteers will also provide over-the-shoulder training for Soldiers. Personnel interested in volunteering to support the SFAB mission can call X56983.
"Employees are putting everything they have into this mission," said Electronics Technician Blake Small, who was part of the six member team who helped stand up the first SFAB. The team overcame challenges and celebrated triumphs while developing work processes for this unique mission. "We were laying the foundation for future efforts."
Depot personnel drew up detailed instructions on how to configure and install Harris radios on the MRAP MaxxPro� platforms, according to Electronics Technician Stephen Weidman. These instructions will be forwarded to depot employees working at future SFAB sites.
"We were the first Tobyhanna team to perform the installs on the new version of the MRAP," said Weidman, who was the team lead for the Fort Benning mission and works in the C4ISR Directorate's COMSEC Branch. "The team pushed themselves to the limit to meet requirements and execute assigned suspense dates resulting in an early completion of the first SFAB mission," Weidman said.
Namlick noted that in addition to supporting on-site requirements, depot personnel are involved with the SFAB mission at home.
"We're kitting Nett Warrior systems in one warehouse and refurbishing radios for installation in another," said Namlick. Tobyhanna responded to a request for nearly 700 Nett Warrior kits to equip the Fort Benning unit.
"Employees working on this project are without a doubt great communicators, knowledgeable of the C4ISR systems being integrated, flexible and dedicated to getting the job done on time and in budget," said Ed Kraftchisin, chief of the C4ISR Directorate's COMSEC Logistics Support Branch. "We even have a logistics assistance representative working for CECOM to help direct vehicles to the SFAB mission," said Kraftchisin, explaining that vehicles are coming from locations across U.S. Army Forces Command.
Program officials praised Tobyhanna for their support of the Army's SFAB program.
"The depot technicians at Forts Drum and Benning are excellent, they're working well with the CECOM team on the ground and the ILSC (Integrated Logistics Support Center) folks. They're keeping all of us informed with progress data and really kick butt to get the job done," said Dennis Stephens, director of CECOM Forward Element (CFE)-East, 406th Army Field Support Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"Despite several delays with MRAP, movements, installations and system integrations are being completed to standard and in a very timely manner. We could not have gotten this done without their [Team Tobyhanna] outstanding support."
CECOM's trail boss at Fort Drum agrees. Team Tobyhanna hit the ground running using skill and experience to meet mission requirements.
"They pushed through to get the job done even though trucks or kits arrived late and changes were made," said James Duxbury, 10th Mountain Division's Army Field Support Battalion. "The success of this program can be attributed to the hard work Tobyhanna personnel put into it."
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,200 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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