Civvy computer specialists aid drawdown from Iraq

The team, collectively known as Synergy, are a collaboration between Fujitsu computers and Paradigm communications. They have been instrumental in the provision and maintenance of IT and communications systems in Iraq and Kuwait in concert with their military counterparts since 2003. Now they are helping with the huge withdrawal effort.

Synergy supports Joint Force Communications and Information Systems (JFCIS) who are responsible for providing communications over the entire Middle East region.

Their HQ is currently colocated with the Joint Force Logistic Component (JFLogC) who are the driving force behind the effort to process over 4,000 containers of equipment and 600 vehicles making their way back into the system for redistribution wherever they are needed.

Jim Booth, the Synergy service manager, said:

"If the military have used IT at a location, we have been there too. We have worked hand-in-hand with our military colleagues and had to endure the same indirect fire attacks as they did when we were located in the Contingency Operating Base in Basra.

"The task now is to dismantle and extract all of the key equipment that we have provided to help the military achieve success in Iraq.

"So far we have decommissioned a total of six separate locations across Iraq and Kuwait; we still have plenty of work ahead of us.

"We have returned 17 full ISO containers to the UK which includes 1,500 desktop computers that we've recovered from 11 different work sites. In total 50 tons of IT equipment has been disconnected, checked, packed and dispatched."

Working in the stifling heat of the desert where temperatures have been topping 47 degrees in the past week, Phil Heron, a Synergy engineer, said:

"I'm ex-Forces, as are many our staff. I know how the military operate and what they need, that knowledge helps me get on with the task in hand effectively."

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Cole the Commander of JFCIS said:

"Synergy is a classic example of how civilian expertise can free up military personnel to achieve a collective mission.

"They bring highly skilled personnel into an operational environment and face the same risks as we do. Without them it would be very difficult to maintain the high level of communication services that we have enjoyed all over the Middle East."

Synergy also provides a 24-hour service desk to answer enquires regarding any of the equipment they or their military counterparts provide.

Major Anna-Lee Johnson, the Officer Commanding of 9 Armoured Company, responsible for preparing vehicles from Challenger tanks to quad bikes for shipment back to the UK in good order, said:

"The help desk is invaluable. To be able to simply pick up my phone and get fast, friendly and professional help at any time of the day helps keep us in business."

A Synergy detachment is currently working hard to ensure that the mammoth task of decommissioning the IT and communications that supported the hundreds of British staff in Baghdad is completed on time and in good order.

Paradigm also provide welfare communications as well as their role within Synergy. The welfare phones and internet terminals that allow troops on operations to keep in touch with home are provided and maintained by the Paradigm element of the team.

Staff Sergeant Robert Pike, part of 4 Logistic Support Regiment who have the lion's share of the work on the base, said:

"It's great to be able to talk to my kids. If I time it right I can actually say good night to them just after their mum reads them a bedtime story. There are plenty of phones here and they're only a few paces from my tent so keeping in contact is really easy."

Commander John Edge Royal Navy who heads the branch responsible for welfare services added:

"Good communications with home are a huge morale booster. Without the valuable facilities provided by the Paradigm team life here would be a lot less tolerable than it is."

Once the Synergy team has completed their task in Iraq and Kuwait they will relocate to Al Udeid in Qatar where they will continue to manage, operate and maintain the military communication assets elsewhere in the Middle East.

The British Armed Forces have successfully completed combat operations in Iraq and are currently bringing their personnel, kit and equipment home to be out of Iraq by 31 July 2009. A separate small UK force of 100 may remain subject to the agreement of the Iraqi Government.