FORT KNOX Ky. – Day 10 of Basic Camp, Bravo Company worked on Single Channel Ground and Radio Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) to know how to communicate via FM radio.
“[FM Communication Training] is a very useful skill to have, being able to operate a radio. You know, we live in a day and age where cell phones and technology and stuff like that. [If] that stops working [radio] will be our only option,” said Cadet Kenneth Luker, Troy University, from Mobile, Al.
Cadet Josh Martin and Cadet Kenneth Luker at SINCGARS ASIP training. Photo by Lindsey Crown
Cadets were escorted into a room with six tables that had six bags. Within each bag, there was a RT-1523E radio, rechargeable battery, hand mic, antenna, and a hand phone.
SINCGARS ASIP were first introduced to the Armed Forces in 1995, as a more advanced and secure version of the radio before. Soldiers will be able to communicate much faster on the ground than they did before.
Sgt. 1st Class Richards instructs the Cadets on how to put the SINCGARS together. As instructed, Cadets put their SINCGARS together piece by piece. Once Richards was done demonstrating, Cadets were to take the radio apart and had to put the radio back together without assistance.
Sgt. 1st Class Richards gives direction during ASIPS Radio Training on Ft. Knox, KY Saturday June 3. Photo by Lindsey Crown
Richards then gave Cadets combat situations to make them further understand the importance of the radio. Richards uses the film We were Soldiers as a reference; in the film there was a scene where the Soldiers had to use the radio while under fire. Although they used a different system, the Soldiers were able to communicate through radio communication.
Richards stresses the importance of radio speech, this is a system of code names and call signs. Using code names will confuse the enemy if they are nearby.
“I think the Army is all about communication, everyone needs to communicate in order to make the Army work,” said Cadet Josh Martin, Grand Valley State University, Kalamazoo, Mich.
If these Cadets ever get deployed, they will know the limitations of cell phone usage and the SINCGARS ASIP will assist them in communication with other Soldiers.
