Keeping
in comms
 |
|
Sig
Matt (surname withheld) fixes a communications line at Bagram.
Photo by Maj Tony Park
|
By
Maj Tony Park
DECADES of warfare obliterated much of Afghanistan’s civil
infrastructure, including its entire communications system, but
a small team of experts from Holsworthy-based 145 Sig Sqn has
given Australia’s SAS Task Group a reliable link to the outside
world.
For
the past six months the Parakeet Satellite Terminal Assemblage
(STA) detachment has ensured that Australia’s Special Forces
soldiers have been able to communicate with a full range of voice
and data services.
The
Parakeet STA provides the Australian Army with mobile satellite
communications in all seasons almost anywhere in the world. During
its time in Afghanistan the STA will have operated in dust storms
and temperatures from the high forties down to well below zero.
WO2
Mark (surname withheld) a senior RASigs member of the SF Task
Group, said as well as providing reliable communications, deployment
of the STA had also been cost effective. Since the STA’s
arrival in theatre Defence’s monthly bill for hand-held INMARSAT
satellite phone usage has dropped significantly.
“The
STA offers us a great deal of flexibility. It gives us Internet
access, plenty of bandwidth for data transfer, ISDN lines and
all the capability to run the many communications systems that
the task group requires to be effective,” he said.
“It
gives us the ability to do business as close to normal as possible
– within the contingent, with the National Command Element
in the Middle East and back to mainland Australia.”
For
the STA, which usually work in support of the Logistic Support
Force (LSF), working with Special Forces has been a new and rewarding
experience.
“This
is the first time they have deployed in direct support to the
(Special Air Service) regiment and, full credit to the detachment,
they have gone out of their way to fit into the way we work. Their
work ethic has been along the same lines as the regiment –
they get on with the job.”
Andrew,
the corporal in charge of the detachment, said the deployment
had been good for 145 Sig Sqn as it had allowed the unit to show
its capability and skills to a different part of the Army.
“It’s
been awesome and challenging working (the SF Task Group). It’s
professional – we’re simply given our task, and they
let us get on with it. They rely on us to do the job right, the
way we’ve been trained.”
Working
around the former Soviet air field at Bagram presents its own
particular challenges to the other three members who make up the
detachment – a technician, an information systems computer
specialist, and a linesman.
Like
every other soldier working in Afghanistan, their job is made
more challenging by the harsh extremes of the natural environment
and the ever-present threat of land mines and unexploded ordnance.
Bagram is one of the most heavily mined areas in the country.
While
laying line recently two members of the detachment noticed an
anti-personnel mine and, as per their training, raised the alarm.
The mine was safely destroyed.
Matt
(surname withheld), the resident linesman, summed up the STA detachment’s
reaction to being deployed to Afghanistan.
“I’m just doing my job. I’m loving it and I’m
proud of the job we’re doing.
