Alabama National Guard Unit to Host Media Day to Display New Equipment Before Upcoming Deployment

Release #2011040501

MONTGOMERY, AL (04/05/2011)(readMedia)-- The 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB), headquartered in Florence with units in Sheffield, Haleyville, Huntsville and Moulton, will host a media day April 12, 2011, from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Alabama Fairgrounds, Muscle Shoals, Ala., to showcase its mission, equipment and dedicated Soldiers before its deployment later this year.

The 115th underwent a transformation in summer 2010 from an Inter-theater Signal Battalion to an Expeditionary Signal Battalion. As part of this transformation, the 115th received the new, state-of-the-art Warfighter's Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T). The unit has trained on the new equipment at the platoon and company level; however, the entire battalion will be formed at the North Alabama Fairgrounds for a co-located event for the first time since fielding the WIN-T equipment.

The battalion's mission is to install, operate, maintain, and defend signal sites and equipment. The new WIN-T is the Army's on-the-move, high-speed, high-capacity backbone communications network, linking warriors in the tactical ground units with commanders and the Global Information Grid, the U.S. Department of Defense's worldwide network- centric information system and is critical to the Army's far-reaching effort to transform into joint, network-centric, knowledge-based warfare. The network provides a clear operational picture for theater combatant commanders by using true satellite on-the-move capabilities, robust network management and high-bandwidth radio systems to keep mobile forces connected, communicating and synchronized. The 115th can support units with voice, data, and video teleconferences.

The Soldiers of the 115th are excited to showcase their new equipment, proficiency and professionalism to their communities. The 115th and the Alabama National Guard believe that community support is an integral part of the lives of Alabama's citizen-Soldiers.

WHO:

Alabama National Guard's 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion
WHAT:

Media day to highlight the 115th's mission, personnel and equipment before their upcoming deployment
WHEN: Tuesday April 12, 2011 at 10:00AM Central Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: North Alabama Fairgrounds
65 Sportsplex Drive
Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661
NOTES:

All media are invited to attend and asked to RSVP to the Alabama National Guard Public Affairs office at int-paoal@ng.army.mil no later than April 11 at noon. Please include the following: name of media outlet, name of all individuals attending, email addresses of all attending, cell phone numbers of all attending, any special accommodations required.

There will be a short briefing at 10 a.m. about the 115th and its mission, followed by photo/video opportunities and interviews with subject matter experts and Soldiers of the 115th.