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Data Marines connect the Corps

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 2004112371518
Story by Cpl. Enrique Saenz

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Nov. 23, 2004) -- A group of active and reserve Marines are making sure that we have the tools to fight the information war.

The data network specialists with the 9th Communication Bn., I Marine Expeditionary Force ensure instant and secure communications between major commands is up and running.

“We make sure that commanders are able to communicate with any other government agency or command anywhere in the world without having to worry about their information being compromised,” said Cpl. Jose U. Garcia, a data network specialist noncommissioned officer and an El Paso, Tex. native.

The data Marines use the Tactical Defense Messaging System (TDMS) to send messages and orders vital to continuing the war effort.

“Commanders need to know what their troops are doing and where they’re at, and this system lets them keep track of all that without having to worry about getting tapped like in other methods of communication,” said Lance Cpl. Walter A. Alford Jr., a TDMS operator with 9th Comm. Bn.

TDMS is secure because it is a direct link between government connections, while telephone lines still have to run through multiple connections, sometimes to a civilian third-party provider, said Alford.

For Operation Al Fajr, communications were essential to coordinating the six-battalion effort to root out anti-Iraqi forces from their stronghold in the city of Fallujah.

The data Marines were prepared to meet the challenges that come along with fighting a war.

“Before we were deployed, we did training field operations every two months to prepare for what we might see out here, like severed communications” said Garcia. “We set up communications in a field environment, surveyed the area, and pretty much covered any eventuality that major units at the front would have to face.”

It’s easy to take units in the rear for granted, said Garcia.

“Without data Marines, there wouldn’t be any computer networking or internet anywhere in the area of operations,” said Lance Cpl. Pedro L. Valle, a reserve Marine from New York City. “No one would be around to fix broken computers, there would be no e-mail and communications would be easy to intercept.”