By Colonel Julia M. Donley, 43rd Chief of Signal and U.S. Army Signal School Commandant
As we move into the New Year, I sincerely hope each of you took time during the holiday season to stop and reflect on your incredible accomplishments in our Signal Regiment and the United States Army. Since the last Army Communicator, Soldiers from across the regiment have been busy executing their mission and supporting the greatest Army in the world.
Fort Eisenhower shut down in late September and early October due to significant damage and a lack of basic services caused by Hurricane Helene. The team at Fort Eisenhower, with special shout outs to 15th Signal Brigade and Garrison, worked hard to take care of the trainees and get classes back in session as soon as possible, minimizing the delay in their arrival to your units.
Over the last few months, Command Sgt. Maj. Linwood Barrett and I had the opportunity to get out and visit Signaleers around the globe, seeing their successes and hearing their challenges. In August, we visited Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where we watched the 101st Air Assault Division execute a forced entry operation from Tennessee to Louisiana, demonstrating the new theory of downward reinforcing communications support at Forward Arming and Refueling Points along the way. The division’s ability to consolidate resources and talent enabled the commander to place capabilities as needed to support the main effort. In particular, I am very impressed with the division’s Cyber Network Defense node overseeing the entire division’s network down to the edge.
In December, we traveled to the Pacific and saw hundreds of Signaleers from United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), I Corps, and United States Army, Japan (USAR-J) executing a combined Yama Sakura / Warf-ighter Exercise where they operated multiple command posts in different countries and time zones. The mission was a success primarily due to the relationships built among the Signaleers of the Pacific, including 22nd Corps Signal Brigade, I Corps G6, 516th Signal Brigade, 307th Signal Battalion, and so many more. The Signal School leads the way in data literacy education. I’ve seen many of you in our Data for Leaders Course and the Data Engineering Foundations Course. The demand continues to increase for those classes both here at Fort Eisenhower and in mobile training versions at your home stations. We have more of these courses scheduled in 2025, looking for ways to expand the opportunity for more leaders across the Regiment to increase their data literacy skills.
Finally, never forget that the Signal Regiment stands on the shoulders of giants! In two separate events, I had the opportunity to recognize Chief Operator Grace Banker, Chief Operator Inez Crittenden, and Juliette Courtial Smith, all members of the original Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit. After more than 100 years, our nation is finally recognizing the service of these incredible veterans with graveside memorial ceremonies and new veterans’ grave markers. Seeing the looks of pride on the faces of the families and hearing their stories makes the effort worth it. Special thanks to retired Colonel Linda Jantzen for helping put this together.
In the pages that follow, you will see countless stories about the signal Soldiers and leaders who help define who we are as a Regiment. 2025 brings with it many challenges as we implement changes across the Signal Regiment to rapidly transform in contact. Yet we are ever cognizant of the fact that every day there are profes-sional Signaleers around the world ensuring the message always gets through. Thank you for all you do for your Signal Regiment, your United States Army, and your country.
Pro Patria Vigilans! Watchful for the Country!
Colonel Julia M. Donley, 43rd Chief of Signal and U.S. Army Signal School Commandant