Field Communications Operator Course Prepares Seabees for Deployment
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080430-25
Release Date: 4/30/2008 2:43:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs
GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Seabees from any construction unit in the U.S. Navy rely on communications to succeed in the missions they are assigned to complete. The first step in learning about field communications is attending the Field Communications Operator Course.
"The purpose of the Field Communications Operator course is to prepare unit communicators for field operations and maintenance using their unit's Table of Allowance (TOA)," explained Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW) Patrick Cunningham, a senior instructor at the 20th Seabee Readiness Group Tactical Communications (R76). "We train not only individual Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCB), but also Seabee regiments, Underwater Construction Teams, Amphibious Construction Battalions and Construction Battalion Maintenance Units."
The Field Communications Operator Course is a two-week class designed to teach Seabees the fundamentals of communications equipment.
"We use a two-prong teaching method to instruct trainees in this course," said Cunningham. "We utilize a lesson plan prepared by the 20th and 31st SRG along with training guides, Power Point presentations and instructor experience to convey information to the students. Our second approach is hands-on learning outdoors with several exercises."
Cunningham explained that instructor experience is an important part of teaching students because it helps emphasize the importance of equipment, skills and knowledge the students need to acquire while also motivating them.
"Communications is vital to every mission, especially pertaining to the equipment we use during convoys and camp set-up," said Cunningham. "Basically, without communications, the mission will stop because the unit will not have support or be able to coordinate with higher, adjacent or subordinate units."
Each member of a NMCB's communications platoon is required to attend the course to ensure they are ready and able to utilize each piece of equipment in the battalion's TOA.
"There is a lot of equipment the course goes over," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Virgilio Figueras, NMCB 7's assistant communications platoon commander. "There are several types of radios, antennae, frequencies and the set-up involved with each of the different networks."
The class gives an overview of each piece of equipment, diving further in-depth with the pieces of gear the Seabees will likely be operating.
"Learning how to use it and seeing how it all ties together is important if we are to succeed on a mission," said Figueras. "This class is very informative because it goes in-depth with all the equipment. The instructors are very professional, and willing to go above and beyond to ensure the students understand the material."
There are two main types of communications networks: phone and cable networks, and radio frequency (RF) networks. Each is used for a specific reason.
"Phone and cable networks are used primarily for in-camp communications and to coordinate operations to complete a mission," explained Cunningham. "The RF equipment is used for short to long range communication, which allows a unit to coordinate movement, patrols and support with other units."
Additionally, Seabees learn about conducting basic maintenance, trouble-shooting and planning procedures for setting up communications.
"Teaching our students how to maintain the equipment from an operator's standpoint is a key element of the course," said Cunningham. "This ensures the equipment operates properly. It is also the first step in keeping a unit's TOA field communications equipment operational."
At the end of the course, Seabees take their new knowledge and put it to the test in the field.
"The trainees come in with little to no knowledge and in two weeks, they leave with a lot more working knowledge than they anticipated," said Cunningham. "Part of that is the high tempo of the class and the extensive hands-on experience during the final days of the course, where they conduct a communications exercise (COMMEX)."
The COMMEX simulates various scenarios involved with communications and is a continued part of a Seabee unit's training.
"We stress that each unit's communications staff should continue similar training to keep their unit operationally ready and to ensure the knowledge is retained," said Cunningham. "The people who attend this course are the ones who will make a unit successful, whether it is during a graded COMMEX or FEX, or in the field on a contingency or humanitarian operation."
"I have a better understanding of communications now that I've taken this course," said Storekeeper Seaman Dominique Fonville, a NMCB 7 field communications operator. "Before, I thought communications was boring. Now because of what I've learned, it seems more exciting and faster paced than you would think. How we use this equipment on FEX and deployments shows you just how vital it is."
For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb7/.
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