1980

AETFOS-XO                                                                                                                                                                                 30 June 1980


MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Project Partnership 1980-1981



This establishes a new period of recording project partnership events between the 5th Fernmeldabataillon and the 143d Signal Battalion. Effective this date the events conducted between the Battalions will be recorded by synopsis of those events. To the maximum extent, pictures will be included to record the events.

HOGAN M. WILSON

MAJOR, Sig C

Executive Officer

LIST OF EVENTS

German Depot VisitAug 80
Communication Interoperability Exercise Oct 80
Energy Conservation Seminar (Marburg) Nov 80
3d Armored Division G07 DinnerApril 81
Partnership Weapons Qualifications April 81
143rd Change of CommandMay  81
5th Fernmeldebataillon Change-of-Command June 81
Weapons Presentation CeremonyJune 81
4th of July CelebrationJuly  81


German Depot Visit Aug 1980


At the invitation of LTC Zimmer, a party of 16 officers and senior NCOs from the 143d Signal Battalion visited an underground communications equipment storage area of the Germany Army.  Most of the facts related to this visit are sensitive.  The visit permitted the officers and NCOs of the 143d Signal Battalion to have a deeper appreciation of the plans and concepts of the Germany Army to be able to sustain a protracted war.  Following the site visit, LTC Zimmer arranged for a brief social period in honor of his guards.


Communication Interoperability Exercise Oct 1980


During July of 1980 the Commanding General of the 5th Panzer Division was briefed by LTC Prusinovski on the concept of employment of the new AW/TEC-41 switchboards of the US Army.  Following this briefing, it was determined that the two Signal Battalions should conduct an interoperability exercise to attempt to interface the tactical telephone switching systems of the two Divisions.


On 16 Oct 80 a composite platoon of Company A, 143d Signal Battalion under the leadership of LTC John Shrader deployed to a field site in the vicinity of Diez with the 5th Fernmeldabataillon. Three days of technical interoperability tasks were performed which resulted in definition of techniques to provide primary and alternate means to interface the tactical systems of the two nations. Additionally, the 143d Signal Battalion confirmed for V Corps the need for the design and procurement of a TEE-41 interface bound to automatically interface the two systems.  LTC Prusinovski, the 143d Signal Battalion Commander visited the field site with LTC Zimmer.

The platoon of soldiers from Company A ate and lived with their sister unit in their field environment and gained insight into their methods of tactical signal operations.

ENERGY CONSERVATION SEMINAR Nov 80


At the invitation of the 5th Fernmeldebataillon a group of 10 officers and wives of the 143d Signal Battalion participated in an environmental discussion with the officers and wives of sister battalion. The discussions centered around national and geopolitical areas of concern for energy conservation with a particular focus on those steps the Federal Republic of Germany were taking to conserve energy and protect the environment and how the federal government was approaching this global issue.


This visit provided the officers and their wives an opportunity to meet and discuss matters other than military topics and was enjoyed by all.