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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq (June 24, 2008) - "Running
cable isn't that interesting unless you stop and play with the
puppy," said Army Spc. Jennifer Dimitroff, a Lancaster, Calif.,
native assigned to Company B, 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion
here.
The puppy Dimitroff mentioned was adopted by contractors living
near one of the many manholes Company B's soldiers are working to
refurbish.
Company B provides voice and data services for Forward Operating
Base Delta, as well as 12 other sites, Army Capt. Kelly McCay,
Company B commander, said.
These soldiers stay busy establishing and running a technical
control facility as well as 26 miles of fiber-optic cable through a
series of manholes around the base. They work to ensure
communications are available for all who need them, said McCay, a
Central City, Ky., native.
Company B is also on the front line as FOB Delta grows, working
to provide for all new units and personnel.
"As new buildings are raised, we work within the construction
process to ensure they are wired for communications," McCay
said.
New construction is only half the mission. Company B also must
service existing cables. As the 41st Fires Brigade arrives from
Fort Hood, Texas, and prepares to take charge of FOB Delta, the
number of work orders has jumped by 65 percent.
"One challenge has been dealing with the speed of growth on the
FOB," said Army 1st Lt. Michael Marrinan, a Wyckoff, N.J., native
and officer in charge of the technical control facility. "There's
an issue with resources and a lack of personnel. We have to manage
who's most important for the mission to keep up with how fast
demand is growing."
Morale remains high in the company despite the challenges, McCay
said.
"Many times, people don't see the impact of their work; they
just work their shifts," he said. "The motivation level is high
because they see the impact each day of what they're doing."
These soldiers have proven to be flexible, often working in jobs
for which they never trained.
Army Spc. Blake Martin, a satellite communications technician,
said he has no regrets about coming to Iraq.
"I wanted to do my part," he said. "I saw soldiers on TV working
over here and wanted to do my part to help that. I joined to come
over here. ... I feel I've done my part here."
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