WEBVTT 00:01.391 --> 00:03.480 - [Narrator] A 25 Lima that comes into the 490th 00:03.480 --> 00:05.680 is gonna do a lot more than just run cables. 00:06.571 --> 00:07.833 (electronic beeping) - 492 it's okay. 00:07.833 --> 00:09.083 - [Man] One way to learn. 00:10.376 --> 00:15.376 Does anybody have an activity? (electronic beeping) 00:15.490 --> 00:19.260 - We've had soldiers that have moved from careers 00:19.260 --> 00:21.860 at like Time Warner Cable or Spectrum, 00:21.860 --> 00:24.070 pulling cables, putting in cable modems, 00:24.070 --> 00:27.300 which is a very low level position and now they're engineers 00:27.300 --> 00:29.030 that are working in organizations. 00:29.030 --> 00:31.550 We've had people working with DISA, 00:31.550 --> 00:33.960 making that leap from, 00:33.960 --> 00:36.210 we'll call it entry level and moving up 00:36.210 --> 00:39.081 to a very advanced career. 00:39.081 --> 00:42.610 And definitely seeing a career path 00:42.610 --> 00:44.930 that's coming out of what we're doing here in the unit. 00:44.930 --> 00:47.520 So, there's a lot of value in that 00:47.520 --> 00:51.280 and outside of the military, it's the civilian side as well 00:51.280 --> 00:52.940 and that is what one of the things 00:52.940 --> 00:54.500 that we try and bring into this unit 00:54.500 --> 00:57.190 is we can say, hey, you know, you're not just gonna 00:57.190 --> 00:59.070 get benefit on the military side, 00:59.070 --> 01:01.070 you're also gonna benefit on the civilian side. 01:01.070 --> 01:02.650 If you've got the drive and the interest 01:02.650 --> 01:05.020 and you want to learn, we'll teach you. 01:05.020 --> 01:06.680 - So, the 490th TIN is 01:06.680 --> 01:10.670 a tactical installation networking enhanced unit. 01:10.670 --> 01:13.430 We install permanent network infrastructure 01:13.430 --> 01:15.760 into military buildings. 01:15.760 --> 01:18.200 We consist of 25 Bravos and 25 Limas. 01:18.200 --> 01:20.040 Bravos are networking specialists. 01:20.040 --> 01:22.590 So, they are able to maintain 01:22.590 --> 01:26.990 and to set up networks on the digital side. 01:26.990 --> 01:29.940 And Lima's are cable dogs 01:29.940 --> 01:32.660 is what we commonly refer to them as. 01:32.660 --> 01:36.280 They run and terminate cable, whether it be fiber optic, 01:36.280 --> 01:38.130 cat five, anything like that, 01:38.130 --> 01:39.640 we're able to cross train them. 01:39.640 --> 01:43.040 So, oftentimes because of the numbers 01:43.040 --> 01:44.720 of Bravos and Lima's we have, 01:44.720 --> 01:48.010 we are able to get Bravo's working on the Lima's mission 01:48.010 --> 01:50.010 and Lima's working on the Bravo's mission as well. 01:50.010 --> 01:52.630 So, everybody has more of that skill set. 01:52.630 --> 01:54.420 - It's not what I thought of a signal unit. 01:54.420 --> 01:56.360 I'm thinking, oh signal, you know, okay, 01:56.360 --> 01:58.010 we'll probably sit on computers as a Bravo 01:58.010 --> 02:01.990 and system admin, but it was definitely nothing like that 02:01.990 --> 02:03.663 when I got here which was good. 02:04.830 --> 02:06.210 Our main mission when we deploy where everybody 02:06.210 --> 02:07.043 was pretty much a Lima's. 02:07.043 --> 02:09.610 So, I got a lot more hands on experience running cables, 02:09.610 --> 02:12.630 running fiber, splicing fiber, different connectors, 02:12.630 --> 02:14.870 learning the separation 02:14.870 --> 02:17.540 between classified, unclassified network 02:17.540 --> 02:18.510 when you're running cables, 02:18.510 --> 02:20.240 punching down into switches and routers 02:20.240 --> 02:22.540 and all that good stuff in Iraq. 02:22.540 --> 02:27.540 So, that was a good experience for somebody 02:27.730 --> 02:29.490 that came in thinking I'm gonna be sitting 02:29.490 --> 02:32.270 at a desk changing passwords all day. 02:32.270 --> 02:35.150 - We have a fairly unique mission 02:35.150 --> 02:36.640 within the signal universe. 02:36.640 --> 02:39.530 So, a large portion of our mission when we deploy overseas 02:39.530 --> 02:43.860 is connectivity on the physical aspect. 02:43.860 --> 02:47.630 When we go onto a location, we're pulling the fiber 02:47.630 --> 02:50.700 that's connecting major end points. 02:50.700 --> 02:53.480 So, we'll run the copper within the building 02:53.480 --> 02:55.300 through the walls, through the ceilings, 02:55.300 --> 03:00.230 we'll run between the buildings, trenched, through manholes, 03:00.230 --> 03:02.810 or aerial, whatever the mission requires. 03:02.810 --> 03:06.140 So, when we go into a location and we leave, 03:06.140 --> 03:10.030 there is permanent data paths in place 03:10.030 --> 03:12.180 and that stays there until such a time 03:12.180 --> 03:13.770 as they decide to rip it out. 03:13.770 --> 03:16.420 So, that's one of the big distinctions between us 03:16.420 --> 03:17.253 and other signal units. 03:17.253 --> 03:19.110 When they go in it's temporary, 03:19.110 --> 03:21.890 they set up what they need, utilize it, tear it down, 03:21.890 --> 03:23.280 take it with them and leave. 03:23.280 --> 03:26.370 When we leave, all the infrastructure stays. 03:26.370 --> 03:28.540 - I graduated high school and didn't have really any idea 03:28.540 --> 03:31.570 what I wanted to do and I saw the Army as an opportunity. 03:31.570 --> 03:34.630 So, I didn't have any background experience with cabling, 03:34.630 --> 03:37.810 or IT, or network infrastructure or anything like that. 03:37.810 --> 03:40.820 The training and experiences that I've gained as a 25 Lima 03:40.820 --> 03:44.720 and also on deployments has really helped me translate 03:44.720 --> 03:46.700 that directly to a civilian career. 03:46.700 --> 03:48.320 - Some of the skills that I gained 03:48.320 --> 03:51.850 here in the unit definitely gave me the push 03:51.850 --> 03:54.170 to do better in the civilian world as an IT guy. 03:54.170 --> 03:55.590 The opportunities to go to school 03:55.590 --> 03:57.860 to earn certifications was a big plus 03:57.860 --> 03:59.194 and this unit provided a lot 03:59.194 --> 04:00.770 of those opportunities for soldiers. 04:00.770 --> 04:02.710 - Once I got to the unit, 04:02.710 --> 04:06.370 there was a lot of education on the job. 04:06.370 --> 04:08.480 There's a lot of soldiers in leadership 04:08.480 --> 04:13.230 that do similar jobs in the civilian side. 04:13.230 --> 04:17.380 We had a lot of help and guidance towards learning 04:17.380 --> 04:20.493 how to better do our job as a 25 Lima. 04:21.459 --> 04:22.890 - 'Cause we give a lot of training 04:22.890 --> 04:24.650 that you wouldn't normally receive 04:24.650 --> 04:27.340 unless you're paying money for bootcamps 04:27.340 --> 04:29.670 and certification training and all that kind of stuff. 04:29.670 --> 04:32.240 A lot of people translate that into a better job 04:32.240 --> 04:33.780 where they progress in their career, 04:33.780 --> 04:35.260 pick up additional skills, 04:35.260 --> 04:38.010 bring those skills right back into the unit 04:38.010 --> 04:40.200 which helps facilitate the training 04:40.200 --> 04:41.790 and moves people through. 04:41.790 --> 04:45.580 It's almost a symbiosis that exists between the military 04:45.580 --> 04:46.870 and the civilian world 04:46.870 --> 04:49.013 that advances each other side by side. 04:49.960 --> 04:52.430 - As the commander, the cross training that we do acts 04:52.430 --> 04:55.530 as a force multiplier for our missions. 04:55.530 --> 04:58.810 I'm able to take on more as far as planning missions 04:58.810 --> 05:00.570 and as far as executing missions 05:00.570 --> 05:02.530 because all of our soldiers are able 05:02.530 --> 05:05.080 to do each different job. 05:05.080 --> 05:06.720 - That's one of the things that we try 05:06.720 --> 05:09.300 and really distinguish ourself from 05:09.300 --> 05:12.830 is we're not just pulling cable, we do a lot 05:12.830 --> 05:16.150 and that's where the additional training comes into play. 05:16.150 --> 05:19.240 We want our soldiers here to be able to experience 05:19.240 --> 05:20.483 the full gamut of IT.