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Army Signal Activity

The United States Southern Command Army Signal Activity mission is to manage all command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems in support of Headquarters, United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida. This includes providing strategic, installation, and sustaining-base support, to include end-user support, troubleshooting, fault isolation and resolution, performance monitoring, configuration control, hardware and software accountability, local- and wide-area network (LAN/WAN) administration, security management, and network systems management of all C4I resources. It also provides information mission area (IMA) support, to include telecommunications, automation, visual information, mail and distribution, and records management, and provides deployable communication support for the Commander In Chief (CINC) while traveling.

Additionally an Inter-service Support Agreement (ISA) between USASA-SOUTHCOM and United States Army South (USARSO), at Fort Clayton, Panama, provides the mission of USASA-SOUTHCOM as follows: Support the HQ USSOUTHCOM and BASOPS Support - Miami by providing, operating, and maintaining signal systems/services support for SOUTHCOM activities located in Miami, FL. USASA-SOUTHCOM is not responsible for signal systems/services support in USSOUTHCOM's area of responsibility. Plan, program, and budget in support of operations and maintenance of signal systems/services for the supported units in Miami, Florida. Operate and maintain signal systems/services for emergency operations. Operate and maintain all common-user base signal support systems to include automation, telecommunications, records management, publications, and visual information.

In compliance with the Panama Canal Treaty the Headquarters of the United States Southern Command (HQ, USSOUTHCOM) moved from Quarry Heights, Panama to Miami, Florida on or about 30 Sep 97. As the Executive Agent for HQ, USSOUTHCOM, the United States Army and thus the United Stated Army Signal Command (USASC) is tasked to provide the Information Mission Area/Command, Control, Communications, and Computer (IMA/C4) support. The United States Army Signal Activity (USASA) - SOUTHCOM was organized to perform this task.

The USASA-SOUTHCOM is collocated with the USSOUTHCOM Headquarters at 3511 NW 91st Ave., Miami, Florida 33172. It was organized under Headquarters, United States Army Information Systems Command (USAISC) permanent orders #226-7, dated 13 August 1996, as the U.S. Army Information Systems Command - Southern Command (USAISC-SOUTHCOM), with an effective date of 01 January 1997. On 16 September 1996 the USAISC was redesignated the United States Army Signal Command (USASC), thus the USAISC-SOUTHCOM was assigned to the USASC under the same order. The USAISC-SOUTHCOM was redesignated USASA-SOUTHCOM under United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) permanent orders #036-6, dated 5 February 1997 (encl. 2). USASC permanent orders 48-1, dated 17 February 1997, reassigned the USASA-SOUTHCOM to the 93rd Signal Brigade, at Fort Gordon, Georgia with an effective date of 16 February 1998.

The USASA - SOUTHCOM Concept of Operation (CONOPS) dated 18 Mar 97, the following is provided: Staffing of the USASA-SOUTHCOM was never intended to provide stand-alone capability. Rather, it was intended to constitute a core of expertise augmented by extensive contract support. All IMA maintenance and support contracts include a clause which require the contractor to provide seven days a week/ 24 hours a day operations during a crisis operation if requested by HQ, SOUTHCOM. USASA-SOUTHCOM will receive administrative and logistic support from the HQ, Commandant.

USASA-SOUTHCOM is responsible for the following mission support. Mission support includes end-user, troubleshooting, fault isolation and resolution, performance monitoring, configuration control and management. The acquisition and maintenance of local and long haul telecommunications, and automation equipment and systems, in direct support of HQ, SOUTHCOM IMA requirements. The administration, maintenance, and where appropriate, operation of data, voice, and video communications, Briefing and Display and Visual Information (VI) systems, multi-media and graphics support. Responsible for assigned portions of approved SOUTHCOM and Department of Army IMA initiatives. Responsible for the network management of communications systems in the Miami area only.