Soldiers Link FOB Hammer With World

Multi-National Division - Center
Media Release
HQ, MND-Center
Baghdad, Iraq

Story by Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq –More than three kilometers of fiber optic cable have been laid at FOB Hammer to provide voice and data communications.

Soldiers of Company B, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team have performed the work to support the HBCT and its attached units.

According to 2nd Lt. William Macleod, the platoon leader for the Joint Network Node platoon, Co. B, the platoon’s efforts have linked the headquarters within the brigade’s battle space.

“Their efforts have opened the door for telephone and internet usage to areas that previously lacked those services,” said Macleod. “They have also made division communication assets supporting FOB Hammer free for usage within the Task Force Marne battle space.”

Planning for this operation began in May. FOB Hammer was outgrowing the company’s capacity to provide reliable communications between the company’s joint network nodes, the brigade’s and battalions’ tactical operations centers, and other outlying nodes.

This idea was quickly expanded to connect the mayor cell, the explosive ordnance disposal compound, Air Force compound, medical dispensary, and detainee holding area.

“The quick-changing plan required a flexible approach with support from a number of sources,” said Macleod. “Soldiers provided the bulk of the work force to accomplish the mission, but were assisted by personnel and equipment from the Air Force, Kellogg, Brown and Root, and local Iraqi contractors.”

Coordinating with these organizations was necessary to complete digging and covering over the trenches as quickly as possible. All the routing and terminating of the cable was performed by Soldiers.

Terminating, or splicing, of fiber optic cable requires special training not usually available for the Soldiers of Co. B. Pfc. Rick Sanchez and Pfc. Jeremiah Gadd traveled to Camp Victory for a class on how to work the cable. For the Soldiers who could not attend the class, the 3rd Infantry Division network engineer came to FOB Hammer to administer on the job training terminating fiber optic cable.

“Although B Company has finished the current plan, there are more requirements everyday,” Macleod said. “(We) will be expanding services to the FOB for the foreseeable future.”