By Staff Sgt. Ange Desinor
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Soldier with 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducts a radio check on an antenna during a two-week signal exercise to provide the brigade’s radio retransmission teams April 6, 2018. (Courtesy photo)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Signal Soldiers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, sharpened their skills during an exercise in order to test their technical abilities and tactical skillset April 9-12, 2018.
Radio retransmission (RETRANS) teams, from the 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, whose responsibility is to extend communications capabilities across the battlefield, used the exercise to learn from signal experts from across the brigade.
“The most important thing about the training was that the focus was on the RETRANS team and the communications they provide,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Post, signal NCO in charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. “Usually when we go out to the field, we are on a timeline because we are training on the overall mission with different elements; it leaves room no for mistakes.”
The training allowed the RETRANS teams to focus specifically on their craft without having to worry about the impact an error may have on the overall operation.
“There’s no emphasis other than RETRANS performing that function,” said Post. “This allowed them to learn, make mistakes and teach each other. In some instances, the Soldiers may find themselves in remote locations or austere environments where it serves as a challenge to ensure they maintain those capabilities; less supplies, fewer resources and are often times further away.”
The RETRANS teams engaged in scenario-based drills, validated equipment load plans and conducted call for fire and enemy familiarization classes.
While some of the training such as load plans, may sound routine, it is not a simple process.
“They have the spares, equipment to protect the antennas against high winds, and extra equipment in case something breaks,” said Post. “The load plans (ensure) the team doesn’t have to call back to the unit requesting support.”
Living in Colorado, the weather can be unpredictable with a lot of wind and the Soldiers must have the correct equipment to withstand the wind, said Post.
“The training was instructed by a variety of subject matter experts, to further enhance the RETRANS team’s technical abilities and increase their tactical skill set,” said Capt. Ricky Tessaro, Company C, 588th BEB, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.
The RETRANS team acts as beacons in between points to extend communication capabilities.
A communication team was placed on a high point while the RETRANS team served as a way point for the signal, said Tessaro.
“The RETRANS teams are typically in a position of good observation due to their necessity for line of sight,” said Tessaro. “So they are able to identify enemy forces and pass on that information to their higher echelons or potentially call for fire on enemy forces, providing an extra dose of lethality on the battlefield.”
FM radios “speak” to each other via antennas that communicate through line of sight.
“If your antenna can see another antenna, (the radios) can talk,” said Spc. Williams Effinger, a signal Soldier with HHC, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. “If your antenna can’t see another antenna, due to distance or obstacles, they can’t talk. A RETRANS team enables you to have further communications than a single antenna. It’s the same concept of a Wi-Fi router; they’re like range extenders.”
At the end of the training, the teams conducted a practical exercise and were evaluated by 1st Sgt. Jared Colvig, Company C, 588th BEB, 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“The training provided realistic and useful feedback to the RETRANS teams and battalion signal leadership,” said Colvig. “RETRANS teams are the most proficient operators because they are the ones who are self-sufficient, are able to manage themselves in remote locations, and can do a multitude of things within their sections.”