59th Signal Battalion extends local-area network more than 1,500 miles to Shemya - Signal Units

FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska -- 59th Signal Battalion extended its local-area network more than 1,500 miles away to the Aleutian Island of Shemya, Alaska, last fall.

The island is home to a communications facility that will support the missile-defense testbed at Fort Greely, Alaska.

Joe Lencz and Ray Pocaigue of the 59th traveled to Shemya to install the termination and LAN equipment necessary to extend Fort Richardson's LAN to the remote outpost.

Shemya is located near the far western end of the Aleutian Island chain and is more than a five-hour flight from Anchorage. The requirement for LAN service originated in July 2002, but because of the unpredictable weather common to the Aleutians, flights were canceled or turned around while enroute due to poor weather. The project was eventually completed in September 2002.

"I'm glad to finally get this part of the mission accomplished," said Pocaigue. "We had three flights cancelled, and we were turned around in flight twice because of weather."

Pocaigue said the mission at Shemya isn't finished, however. "There will be a requirement in the near future to install secure Internet protocol routed network connections, which will provide another adventure for the 'Voice of the Arctic,'" he said.

MAJ Owen is 59th Signal Battalion's executive officer.

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