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NMCB 133 Provides Clever Communication

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100421-10
4/21/2010

By Electronics Technician 2nd Class Brandi Chopie, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 Public Affairs

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 arrived at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan March 12 and the troops knew this deployment would be like no other.

There would not be the preexisting camp or equipment and project turnover that usually accompany the startup of a deployment.

NMCB 133 had to start from the very beginning; meaning no tools, no civil engineering support equipment and no communications.

The S6 department was fully prepared to set up all voice and data communications equipment required for a fully functional command. The first few days were challenging because they had very little experience setting up their ruggedized deployable satellite terminal. They successfully established communications with Port Hueneme with the help of the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment.

They ran over 5,000 feet of Category-5 networking cable, giving them the opportunity to supply the command with 10 Secure Internet Protocol Routing Network (SIPRNET) workstations, 32 Non-Classified Protocol Routing Network (NIPRNET) workstations and five Defense Switched Network (DSN) phones.

Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Powell, NMCB 133's executive officer, was pleased to announce the accomplishments of the battalion's S6 shop on their Facebook page.

"I'm pleased to be writing this from a computer on our very own network…. the communications department has been working around the clock to get us up and running on both voice and data. A huge BZ (bravo zulu) to Chief Pittenger and all of the ETs (electronics technicians) and ITs (information systems technicians) on their amazing effort!" wrote Powell.

Plenty of training had to be completed as the tasks were being accomplished since five personnel in the communications department had never been deployed with a Seabee unit. This training proved useful when the S6 shop was able to quickly set up three detachments with the required communications equipment required to do their mission prior to their departure from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.