ALAMEDA, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2015) — The 397th Signal Company, Riverside, California, maintained the Joint Network Node and satellite transport terminal to provide secure voice, video and data services to troops at Alameda Point, Military Ocean Terminal Concord, and Camp Parks, California, during the Big Logistics-Over-The-Shore, West exercise.
More than 750 Army Reserve Soldiers, from all over the United States, participated in this seaport and harbor logistics operations exercise from July 25 to Aug. 7.
Spc. Daniel Membreno, a satellite communication systems operator-maintainer, with the 397th Signal Company, specializes in setting up and maintaining the satellite transport terminal and assists other units when they need signal support.
“If any unit has an issue and they come to us, then we help them out,” Membreno said. “Whether their phones are not working or they are having network issues, we assist them to make sure they have communications. We make sure they can talk and send data so they can accomplish their mission.”
Membreno, previously a medic with the 304th Sustainment Brigade, Riverside, California, decided to change his Army specialty to help advance his civilian career as a network specialist. After completing satellite communication systems operator-maintainer training, Membreno joined the 397th Signal Company. He was hired into a civilian company through networking and diligence with his fellow Soldiers.
“If you do enough work, eventually people are going to pay attention and you will reap the rewards,” Membreno said. “Now, I’m a network specialist, which basically means you do network anything, for the Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group in Twenty-nine Palms.”
Membreno said he learned a lot of values from his parents and many of them were reinforced in the military. He said people pay attention to the simple things. It is important to be in the right place at the right time in the right uniform. Soldiers move with a purpose and have a sense of urgency.
“Spc. Membreno knows a lot about the technical aspects of the equipment, and he’s always willing to learn about other pieces that are not within his scope,” said 1st Lt. Justin R. Maatuban, 397th Signal company commander.
Spc. Jose Chavez, a signal support systems specialist with the 397th Signal Company, is cross training on the Joint Network Node and satellite transport terminal during the exercise.
“He’s a great leader,” said Chavez regarding Membreno. “If he thinks someone else needs to focus on the equipment, he’ll take the time to teach them. He wants to make sure that the next person, who takes his job, will be more than qualified to do it.”
Membreno joined the military in 2010 and is six months from completion of his bachelor’s degree in network systems security from California Intercontinental University.