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HomeNewsArchivesMarriott Storm Tests Mettle of VING Communications Unit

Marriott Storm Tests Mettle of VING Communications Unit

June 24, 2008 — While gentle trade winds wafted outside, a hurricane was raging in a little room off of a back hallway at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
In a hurricane preparedness exercise, the 285 Combat Communications Squadron of the Virgin Islands National Guard deployed an impressive array of communications equipment to support a conference of top leadership of the National Guard from all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia, held at Frenchman's Reef.
While the exercise offered real-time phone and Internet support to nearly 200 Guardsman attending the conference, it had another purpose of greater interest to the people of the V.I.
Codenamed "Angelo," the exercise simulated response during post-hurricane conditions, validating the capabilities of the unit.
The unit's capabilities allow for telephone and Internet communications which can support the entire V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency, with expansion capabilities for up to a couple of hundred users, according to Master Sgt. Roland Lawrence, one of the unit's members.
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) capabilities would be limited, and most voice communication would be analog via satellite.
The team said that data transfer speeds would vary, but could go fast enough to rival T1 speeds.
In the event of a storm, the unit will set up the "back-side stuff" — radios, routers, hubs and other networking and computer equipment — normally found indoors during the storm. After the storm winds die down, the team will deploy the satellite antenna and other outdoor equipment.
"We can be communicating over the Internet and voice systems within two hours," Connors said.
During the storm, the unit supports communications needs for the Guard using HF and UHF and SSB radio communications. These radio technologies also provide redundancy for the Internet and telecommunications system used after the storm.
And if they need backup, all the unit has to do is call. The unit's sister unit, the 226 Group from the Alabama National Guard, has their back and is standing by.
As soon as the runway is clear, the 226 can land and have a unit up and running with four phones and four Internet connections within one hour, according to Tech. Sgt. Shannon Metcalf of the Alabama unit.
The VING typically places the request for backup before the storm.
"You can't wait until after the storm to get ready," Metcalf said. "We're prepared when the storm is coming in."
Master Sgt. Cuteill Young has been with the 285 through hurricanes before.
"We operated out of Frenchman's Reef after [Hurricane] Marilyn," Young said. "It's like coming home and upgrading with bigger and better technology."
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