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the first episode was transitioning into the second, already the

communication architecture was the largest and most complex any I
Marine communication battalion had ever established.    I


                            SPISODE II

The final buildup of forces within Saudi Arabia characterized I
the second phase.   For those units which deployed in August, it I
was a period of repetitious training and preliminary preparation

for the coming conflict.   However, 9th Communication Battalion I
was again presented unique new challenges. During this episode, I
the I MEF/USMARCENT headquarters displaced from the Port of I
Jubayl, and the TTC-42 and TTC-39A incompatibility was corrected

during this episode.   Moreover, it was during this episode that I
CENTCOM exercise Imminent Thunder was conducted and Alpha I
Company,  9th Communication Battalion mounted out with CG 5th MEB

on amphibious shipping.   It was an eventful episode for the I
battalion even though the war was still several weeks away.

The first challenge of the episode was the I MEF displacement.
Moving from the port to another modern vacant facility in the I
vicinity of Camp 5,  the battalion was required to provide I
continual communications at both the new and old MEF command I
posts until the displacement was complete.   The concept called
for installing a replica of the system at the port and keeping I
it in a standby mode until an orchestrated cut-over was I
conducted.   A full set of single channel radios were set up at
the police station in preparation to take over net control at I
the directed time.   Another TSC-85B, obtained through the I
logistics center in Albany, Georgia, was installed at the police

station and prepared for a hot cut over.   A new GRC-2Ol network I
was established at the police station to link it with all the I
stations formerly coupled to the port plus a new connection I
between the old and new headquarters locations. Moreover,  1
another complete switching system had to be installed and ready I
to service the exact same telephone trunks and lines as were I
present at the port.

The preparations for the cutover were conducted in November with

the 27th being the goal to conduct the actual event.   Beginning I
at 2300 on the evening of the 27th,   the cutover from the old I
port headquarters to the new police station facility was I
accomplished link by link and circuit by circuit.   The process I
took several hours but was complete by first light on the 28th.

This was probably the most difficult task undertaken by the I
battalion and certainly the greatest accomplishment of Desert I

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