Led by Capt. Jonathan Edwards, C Company, 98th Signal Battalion (E) commander, Soldiers completed their pre-mobilization validation, in conjunction with their annual training, at the Fallbrook U.S. Army Reserve Center and Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The training event, which began on 27 August 2023, tested the Soldiers’ technical Signal skills in addition to the Army Warrior Tasks to prepare them for an upcoming deployment within Central Command (CENTCOM).

C Company, who goes by the callsign Copperhead, has been identified to provide tier 1 and tier 2 technical support for a helpdesk mission that supports military units throughout the CENTCOM area of operations, based out of Kuwait. Their mission is to provide cable support to military installations around the country and overseas as needed. During this deployment, they will support units in their area of operation throughout all of the Central Command (CENTCOM) footprint, so they will be completing a wide variety of work orders that are assigned to them.

“I’m excited to be here getting ready to deploy to Kuwait. We want to go through this validation process in order to be ready for our mission,” said Capt. Edwards. “I’m looking to improve our Military Entrance Tests (METs), which will ensure that our Soldiers are trained and prepared to go downrange.”

A validation program is the preparing of a unit for deployment to participate in designated training of their Military Operational Specialty. C Company primarily consists of 25H, Network Communication Systems Specialist. These Soldiers are vital to the Army’s communication mission.

“This will be my first deployment and I’m excited to use the skills I have learned during my training,” said Spc. Jonas Oehrlein, C Company signal Soldier. “Our mission will be to support and enhance communication devices throughout our area of operation.”

It should be remembered that the United States is still sending American service members into harm’s way and that these troops will be serving their country will honor. Capt. Edwards, who is a seasoned professional, will lead 88 Soldiers on this deployment to Kuwait for nine months.

C Company, which is a sub-unit of the 505th Signal Brigade, provides deployable force projection signal support and rapid communications for the U.S. Army, joint and combined operations. Since, September 11, 2001, the Signal Corps has been supporting the Global War on Terror, which has continued to emerge across the world.