Us signal corps

Within the classification of combat, combat support and service support, the Signal Corps is a combat support branch with the overall mission of planning, installing, operating and maintaining the Army's worldwide communication system.

The responsibilities of the Signal Corps include establishing, maintaining, operating and refining communication networks for tactical operations; operating the Army portion of 'the global strategic communication network; training signal specialists, officer and enlisted; carrying out research and development projects; handling the logistics of storage, distribution and repair of communications-electronics materiel, staffing the Army photographic and pictorial services; experimenting in the atmospheric sciences and training meteorological specialists; developing highly specialized electronic equipment for use in the space satellite program; and special research in the fields of avionics and combat surveillance.

Signal corps units

The complexities of today's Army require a flexible Signal Corps organization. While many types of Table of Organization and equipment (TOE) signal organizations are authorized, if not in actual existence, signal personnel are employed in practically every organizational structure throughout the Army. The Army depends upon the Signal Corps to provide the communication required by the army commander for his operational needs. The Signal Corps provides the command communication system superimposed upon the area communication system to meet this requirement.

A field army signal brigade is the signal organization formed and employed to provide an area communication system and a command communication system for a field army. The brigade assigns servicing elements including the various organic signal battalions (i.e. communication and construction) to plan, install, maintain and operate the integrated network of the command communication system serving from the field army HQ down to each combat brigade. Also, at each combat brigade there is a Signal Corps officer who serves as the brigade Communications-Electronics officer. Every manoeuvre battalion placed under the combat brigade has its own C-E off in charge of organic communications and in command of the battalion communication platoon.

At corps level, there is a signal battalion which provides command communication from the corps command post (CP) to the division CPs. This battalion performs its msn by using five organic cos: a HHC, two command operations companies for the corps main and alternate CPs, a command radio relay and cable company, and command artillery radio relay company.

1.	Answer the questions.

1. What is the mission of the Signal Corps?

2. What are the responsibilities of the Signal Corps?

3. In what respect does the Army depend upon the Signal Corps?

4. What purpose is a field army signal brigade formed and employed?

2.	Translate words and word combinations into English

Засоби зв’язку і радіоелектроніки, електронне обладнання, мережа зв’язку, начальник зв’язку, рота зв’язку, класифікація, гнучкий, обслуговування, розгортання систем зв’язку.

TEXT 11