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812th and 820th TIN-E collaborate to reduce costs at Fort Devens

By Capt. Yajaira GuzmanAugust 9, 2022

812th and 820th TIN-E collaborate to reduce costs at Fort Devens
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SPC. Marco A. Salazar , a 25B Network Information Tech, with the 812th TIN- E is shown here sealing the EMT (Electromagnetic Tubing) with Fire Caulk. This is to ensure the cable pathways are sealed around the tubing so they are more fire retardant in case of a fire in the building. (Photo Credit: Capt. Yajaira Guzman) VIEW ORIGINAL
812th and 820th TIN-E collaborate to reduce costs at Fort Devens
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SPC. Matthew H. Shuck, 25L Cable Systems Installers , is shown here above the false ceiling installing anchor screws. Inside plant cable operations requires many construction techniques. Some of these include drilling and mounting of hardware, that would normally be found in carpentry trades.

  (Photo Credit: Capt. Yajaira Guzman) VIEW ORIGINAL
812th and 820th TIN-E collaborate to reduce costs at Fort Devens
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – PV2 Morgan Love, 25B Network Information Tech, with the 812th TIN- E, is shown here encasing bored cable pathways with fire retardant caulking to ensure building and communication standards are maintained with new installations. By following , BMP , better management practices when expanding pathways, communication installers maintain continuity in building codes. (Photo Credit: Capt. Yajaira Guzman) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DEVENS, Massachusetts – The 505th Signal Brigade currently has two of their Tactical Installation Networking- Enhanced (TIN-E) units providing network infrastructure support to the Fort Devens Garrison Command.

During this fiscal year, the Fort Devens Garrison Command received an estimate to complete the installation of the internet technology structure of building 644, which was approximately $1 million dollars.

Command Sgt. Major Jamie M. Rogers, Garrison Command Sergeant Major, said the garrison commander reached out to the 505th Signal Brigade after receiving information about a similar type of project that was being

completed by the 505th Signal Brigade at the Mission Training Complex (MTC) Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, ultimately igniting the troop labor assistance.

“The troop labor provided from the 505th Signal Brigade will save Fort Devens, an Army Reserve installation, approximately $600,000 in labor alone,” she said.

“This is a major savings and will enable other projects to be completed during this fiscal year,” Rogers said. “Upon completion, the building will add over 62 office spaces, five classrooms, and several additional work areas to support the Army Reserve.”

The project to install, test and provide remediation and maintenance to circuits and wiring was broken down in three different iterations of proficient and qualified Soldiers from 812th and 820th TIN-E companies.

Led by Staff Sgt. Manuel Hernandez IV, 820th TIN platoon sergeant, a team from the 812th and two teams from the 820th were sent to execute and complete different portions of the project to ensure its overall completion.

“Planning for this mission began back in April with a site-visit of Fort Devens,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez explained how a team was sent out to determine mission requirements and capabilities to allow the TIN-E to engineer and identify the necessary work requirements, specific core competencies, an estimated bill of materials, and personnel requirements.

“By utilizing Army Reserve Soldiers on annual training, the only added cost to the Army is the acquisition of Layer 1 and Layer 2 networking hardware and equipment,” he said.

Hernandez further explained how utilizing TIN-E units reduces the cost down to roughly less than one-hundred thousand dollars and can provide a crew of 50-plus personnel and a timeline of six weeks.

The mission, in addition to the cost savings, ultimately provides the most valuable, real-world training possible for Soldiers to prepare them for real world theater operations while deployed.

“The mission highlights the interoperability of the modular signal force structure as it relates to the TIN mission and deployability,” said Staff Sgt. Aerik B. Santillan, Cable Systems Installer and section chief for the 812th TIN-E Company.

For the 812th TIN-E, this mission serves as a validation exercise for their upcoming deployment to the U.S Central Command area of operations.

1st Sgt. Enrique De Reza, 812th TIN-E, shares that the best part of conducting a mission like this is the ability to work with one of their sister TIN-E units.

“The overall wealth of experience that we can share and learn from one another helps to bridge that gap and maintain off-line communications so that we can continue to better ourselves and share training and real-world experiences,” he said.

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