Army and General Dynamics Officials Open JNN Network Training Facility

The Army's system will train soldiers on operation use of the JNN.

To celebrate the opening of a new Joint Network Node (JNN) Network training facility that will get soldiers ready for the next generation of battlefield communications, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in July at the General Dynamics Resident School at Fort Gordon, Ga.

Of the new training facilities, outgoing Commanding General of the U.S. Army Signal Center, MG Janet Hicks said, “This is huge for the Signal Corps.” She went on to say, “This represents the achievement of creating and acquiring the initial capability and tools needed to begin training on a new generation of equipment and technology for the Signal Regiment.”

The new facility’s hardware and software will train soldiers on the operation and use of JNN. The Army’s relatively new system will bring integrated communications – voice, video and data—down to battalions, using commercial, off-the shelf technology.

Participating in the ceremony and open house also included LTG Steven W. Boutelle, chief information officer/G6, Department of the Army, and John Martin, vice president, General Dynamics C4 Systems.  The ceremony was attended by approximately 200 Signal Community leaders and trainers, including the incoming Fort Gordon Commanding General, BG Randy Strong.

• LTG Boutelle noted that increased resources will be applied to training and to the JNN program. “We need to keep pushing and spiraling,” he said.

Since the training equipment was requested a year ago, initial fielding was conducted at Fort Stewart, Ga., last summer, and now the 3rd Infantry Division JNN Network is currently in operation in Iraq.

Chris Marzilli, General Dynamics C4 Systems senior vice president, noted: “There’s a lot of work going on between Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN–T) and JNN, which will spiral technologies from WIN–T into that interim force network — the modularity division network.”

MG Hicks commented on General Dynamics’ role in the fielding and training of the JNN Network.

“I want to give my personal thanks and congratulations to General Dynamics.  GD has been our true partner in this every step of the way.  The entire General Dynamics team from Taunton to Fort Gordon has delivered at every turn and we would not be at this point without you,” she said.