The Beam, Bolling AFB 24 March 2006
Radio upgrades benefit Bolling first responders
by 2nd Lt. Landon Derentz
BEAM Staff, 11th Wing Public Affairs
The 11th Medical Group and 11th Communications Squadron upgraded two ambulances with new radio systems March 10 and 13 at the Naval District of Washington Fire Station on base.
The new communication systems are an addition to the digital narrowband land mobile radio system that came online at Bolling in early January, 2006.
The upgraded radios provide the ability of 11th MDG personnel in ambulances to link directly with other first responders around the base, such as the base clinic and the 11th Security Forces Squadron, as well as several hand-held LMR units. According to the 11th CS, when fully operational, the LMR system allows Bolling to communicate with 25 military installations around the greater Washington area.
"First responders need reliable communication equipment for contingencies and the new equipment provides that," said 2nd Lt. David Hare, the officer in charge of the base LMR system.
According to federal law, all government agencies, including the Department of Defense, are required to adopt the new LMR system because it requires less bandwidth than traditional communication methods. Bandwidth dictates the amount of data that can be passed through communication channels within a certain time frame.
"The new radio system is technology and emergency medical services merging for the future," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Carr, the noncommissioned officer in charge of ambulance services for the 11th Medical Operations Squadron.
