Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Army signallers W02 Andy McKee and Sig Chris Gooding came up with a rapid improvised solution when the Parakeet Satellite Terminal Assemblage (STA) thermal switches kicked at internal temperatures of 90 degrees Celsius, closing down the dishes across the Middle East Area of Operations. Photo by WO2 Al Green, 1JPAU(P)

Comms shine in Iraq

From WO2 Al Green in Iraq
One of the outstanding success stories of the Middle East deployment according to former Australian Forces Commander, Brig Maurie McNarn, has been that of communications.

From operations covering pre-war through to post-war reconstruction of Iraq, ADF communicators and signallers have played a key role.

According to J6 (Communications and Information Systems) Commander Col Lewis Coyle, the demands of secure data transfer in modern warfare have made this the biggest offshore satellite communications operation in ADF history.

Col Coyle believes that the skills of the personnel developed through solid training procedures supported by sound planning have made the technical process so effective.

“Having standardised training at the Defence School of Signals helps us take integrated approach on operations but what I like about it is that our personnel are also trained to think, to improvise and to find solutions and our people have put those solutions into place,” he said.

Though the environment may be a high-tech one, solutions found to many comms challenges are anchored firmly in the Anzac tradition of improvisation.

Army signallers W02 Andy McKee and Sig Chris Gooding came up with a rapid improvised solution when the Parakeet Satellite Terminal Assemblage (STA) thermal switches kicked in at internal temperatures of 90C, closing down the dishes across the AO.

A domestic air-conditioner, some borrowed conduit and scrap timber was adapted to build an effective cooling unit.

The Middle East’s extreme winds have also seen Aussie improvisation hard at work in the field.

Broomsticks were used during the war to stop a satellite receiver and dish toppling during vicious sand storms, while recently in Baghdad, WO2 Grant Davison adapted field antennas to suburban terrain by anchoring them onto the building reinforcement.

WO2 Davison’s team was also required to mount antennae onto the roof of a nine-story building housing the security detachment.

“Carrying an antenna array up nine stories in 40 plus degree heat while wearing a ballistic vest and helmet proved to be an interesting experience,” said he said.