LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Operating in a country encompassing rugged, mountainous terrain and recovering from years of conflict can present many communications challenges, but at least one Soldier successfully keeps his units connected.
Spc. Joseph Sirovy, a multichannel transmissions systems operator assigned to C Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, ensures his units throughout Wardak and Logar provinces in eastern Afghanistan are able to connect.
"I am trying to make a difference at the company and platoon levels for Soldiers to be able to communicate to their command," Sirovy said.
As the technical expert for a team that assesses and repairs communications equipment, Sirovy provides communication analysis throughout the brigade's area of operations. This support allows Task Force Patriot to communicate in a clear and timely manner, even at the lowest levels, so they can conduct effective military operations and, more importantly, keep ahead of insurgents and the Taliban, said Capt. Craig Starn, C Company commander.
Afghanistan has limited fixed-line telephone service, ranking 139th in the world according to the CIA's World Fact book web site. Terrain is the biggest obstacle for establishing communications within TF Patriot's operating area of Afghanistan, Sirovy said, and communications leaders are using commercial equipment to push network services to companies and platoons not located on larger forward operating bases.
Signal site assessments play a significant role in maintaining reliable tactical communications down to the lowest levels, said Maj. Keith Dawson, TF Patriot brigade communications and automations officer in charge.
Sirovy said he enjoys conducting assessments throughout Logar and Wardak provinces because he leaves the FOB and gets to fix and prevent communication problems.
Dawson said Sirovy and the assessment team are vital to maintaining communications within the task force because the host nation has very limited landlines, forcing the brigade to rely mainly on its own signal equipment - such as satellite communication.
An active assessment team is also important due to the size of TF Patriot's communication network, which is four times the size of an average BCT's, Dawson said.
Sirovy said he has learned to assess and maintain satellite communications equipment and computer networking systems. He knows the training and experience he received from his job would help in the civilian sector due to the latest technology the U.S. Army uses.
However, Sirovy is not necessarily thinking of leaving the Army anytime soon. While he joined the Signal Corps to learn the signal and communications field, he said he enlisted the Army for three reasons: to serve his country, to make something of himself and to provide for his child.
Sirovy and Starn have been tasked with conducting signal site assessments for all FOBs and combat outposts within the Patriot Brigade's area of operations, and they travel to different locations weekly to complete surveys. Sirovy inspects all of the signal equipment for each unit to make sure it is functioning properly. He fixes issues on the spot and determines if any equipment parts need to be ordered or repaired.
It is critical that the units have uninterrupted communications to their higher authority during combat operations, Starn said.
First Sgt. Adrian Borel, C Company, 4th BSTB's first sergeant, explained why Sirovy was chosen for his position on the assessment team and why he is so successful.
"Spc. Sirovy is dedicated to mission accomplishment and will not accept failure," Borel said. "He continuously seeks to expand his knowledge base of signal equipment and its capability pertaining to each unit's primary mission focus."
Allen and Perez serve with 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
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