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Semper WiFi
Roblimo writes "Armed Forces personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan increasingly use the Internet to communicate with their familes back home, but there are not nearly enough computers and connections for them. Lt. Phillip Geiger, Medical Officer with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, suggested using a privately-funded, long-range WiFi network to help troops stay in touch. The idea has grown from there, all funded privately with cash and equipment donations. Joe Barr has the details on NewsForge (which, like Slashdot, is part of OSTG)."
Things like this are great. Troops fighting for us deserve to be able to communicate with their friends and family to keep them sane. This really reminds me of the http://www.gmail4troops.com/ project. If you have an extra gmail invite around in you inbox, why not give it to someone who could use it to receive video and pictures from loved ones.
Boxing Equipment Reviews
...front line forces surfing slashdot.
Eight Oh Two dot Eleven Be. Full Speed Packet.
-- "I'm not a religious man, but if you're up there, save me Superman..."
I want very much for our troops to be able to communicate with their families back home. It's good for morale both in the service and for their families. But the lack of security in a WiFi network, IMO could easily put those military forces in jeopardy. All it would take would be the wrong information packet-sniffed by the wrong person to cause danger to the soldiers there. Is it truly possible to make a WiFi network secure enough to avoid this?
Never look down your nose at others. Someday, someone is bound to see your boogers.
Makes you look at WiFi rifles in a whole new light (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/03/wi-fi_aer ial_gun/).
Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped. Calvin Coolidge
FAQ is at http://public.afca.af.mil/LIBRARY/MARS1.HTM . Another article explaining the Air Force MARS is http://www.asc.army.mil/mars/history.htm
"dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope"
I'm sure al Queda will think up all sorts of diabolic plots after learning of Suzy's sniffles, Billy's math test, and what the guy's wife is going to do to him as soon as he gets back (note to celibate geeks: this is a sex refeence).
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
This sounds like an Operational Security nightmare. Unless it is well secured (and fully encrypted end-to-end), it could well be a valuable source of information for the Bad Guys.
Remember, information wants to be free...
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
There is nothing much new in the setup they are proposing, perhaps the biggest thing is that they are proposing it.
I would suggest wireless dumb terminals with certificate based security, going through a WEP that is MAC configured and keeping a tabs on all terminals as much as possible.
No, the thing that shocks me is the reference to ehowa...
Governments spend unbelievable ammounts of money on military equiptment, can't some of it be appropriated to communications?
I thought 'battlefield' communications would be very good - I am utterly mystified how a country can have so many troops in a place and not have a solid redundant communciation netwrok that could be accessible to the troops.
Perhaps this could be an oppourtunity for some community aid? Let the students get involved in configuring the units (after all, we are talking email and video messaging, nothing secret?)
This may be nice.
#hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
Probably because most people know a guy down the road or from school or in the family who's over there, and especially those who have family in service know what it's like to be out of touch for long periods of time and would want to fix that. It's human nature to care more about people who are closer to you. Also I'd guess most people have a mindset that makes them think whatever they put in would be so small as to be a drop in the bucket in the rebuilding effort (whether that's true or not i can't say)...with this wireless thing you can donate equipment and know you put a piece of it in place.
That said, even though you're trolling you have somewhat of a point...
If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
If you have older computers lying around, fix 'em up and donate them to local families who have family in the war.
The military has special sites setup for where the families can get free webmail, inet access, etc..
I took two old P3-450s and gave one to my wife's friend and another to the local Marine Reserve base, that they can pass out to other family members.
Josh
Troop morale is an important issue - especially since many of these great people have been forced to be away from their families longer than originally planned.
If more frequent contact can be made, their morale will increase, and this leads to more effective troops.
If YOU wish to start a Rebuild Iraq fund, feel free to do so. Like a Habitat for Iraq-ity.
Our military is not supposed to rebuild Iraq (they are demolition/enforcement, not construction). The rebuilding is supposed to be done by the 'contractors' already hired (and a fine job they are doing, too).
It's a pun on this
to War Driving...
-- "I'm not a religious man, but if you're up there, save me Superman..."
"In case anyone doesn't get it, "Semper Fi" is the Marine Corp motto."
Other prominent mottos we've use include:
...it would be nice if they left the network in place, if this were at all possible. I'm sure the Iraqis could make great use of it.
Well, some people went into the military because it was the best choice for them. They're not blood-thirsty or enjoy killing. Most were likely just poor, were trying to escape a bad household, or just were not suited for a regular school. Some were just fooled into believing that the military is just piloting million dollar equipment and having honor.
They took the risk of having to hurt someone to get what they wanted. There is no way you can blame their youthful ambition or ignorance. If you are young, you have it. And if you are older, you laugh at yourself for having so much of it (but you still miss it).
With all due respect, I think you have it backwards. The Army and military in general is NOT trained for rebuilding infrastructure or even for "peacekeeping" or law enforcement. The military is trained for one thing: Achieve their military objectives as quickly and efficiently as possible. Military objectives generally fall into 3 categories.
1. Kill that guy.
2. Keep that guy from killing someone else (method: see #1).
3. Train for 1 and 2.
This is the reason Vietnam turned out the way it did. If you expect the military to effectively do anything but kill the enemy, be prepared to be disappointed.
IMHO, Civilian contractors, US, Iraqi, or otherwise, should be doing the reconstruction. It is the Iraqi government's responsibility to oversee this task and the US government's responsibility to assist as appropriate.
nos laetus epulor qui would domito nos
However, US soldiers who enrolled (i.e. all US soldiers in Iraq), did so willingly...they're hired killers and they're this administration's accomplices in starting this illegal war and invasion of a sovereign country.
Wow, you really are ignorant. Given the choice, most people wouldn't risk their lives overseas just to "see some action." Most of these people are doing it because they have no other choice. It certianly doesn't pay well, especially for the risks involved. Maybe you're somehow not aware of current tuition costs, but I know of alot of people who cannot even afford to go to a state or community college. Going into the military for a few years then having them pay your tuition is a great way to go to college and be able to get a job that is better than being in the military. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't have to take this route and don't condemn other people who have no other options. You can disagree with the war in Iraq, but the troops did not make those political decisions.
I can't respond to this with today's Army but I can tell you that for the most part, you are trusted and reminded to do the right thing. I was a communications specialist with the Army during the first gulf war and when we finally got in contact with an AT&T operator to allow calls back home over the radios we had, I had to remind the soldiers that any sensitive information they passed out could result in their death and that of their buddies due to us not knowing who was listening. Everyone seemed to heed that warning. The Army doesn't have a bunch of AOLers in their ranks.
The people there now are most certainly "fighting for us"
Now Saddam Hussain has gone, the occupying force has an absolute responsibility to hand the country over to responsible governance. The alternative would be balkanisation and the development of mini states led by fanatics. Many of these warlords would benefit greatly from supporting global terrorism.
Dont kid yourself, Iraq is most deffinitely a threat now and it is a vital responsibility of the occupying forces to support the development of the new government - for our sakes as much as for the Iraquis
For many people opposition to the war before it began was for this very reason - that we doubted that the US would be capable of returning Iraq to peace and prosperity after removing their vile dictator. In particular we doubted that the American electorate had the stomach to take responsibility for the winning of the peace after the war.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of starting the thing, it is now of vital importance to finish the job.
Facts are history now plebs have politics for religion on social media.
However, US soldiers who enrolled (i.e. all US soldiers in Iraq), did so willingly. They didn't get that job to play tennis, they knew they could very well be asked to go do some killing on behalf of the government. So, I don't care if they went there to get money for tuition, or to make their families proud, or just to "see some action", they're hired killers and they're this administration's accomplices in starting this illegal war and invasion of a sovereign country.
So, what are you saying?
Are you saying that all soldiers in all armies in the world are "hired killers"? Is it your position that no good person should ever join the military?
Or are you saying that soldiers should independently evaluate each conflict that comes along and decide whether or not they think this one is "moral"?
Or are you saying that people should only join the military whey they know there's a war coming up that they think is worth fighting in?
Or are you saying something else? Please explain, so we can tell you why you're wrong.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
Hello Fellow Slashdotters,
My name is Michael and I'm a civilian contractor out here in Fallujah, Iraq working with the Marine Headqaurters in their Information Office. On my free time my roomate and I keep the current internet cafe running on base for a large number of Marines and service members.
I can tell you want is needed. There are over 20 internet cafes, which consist of one 1mb/512 satellite and 20 computers and 8 IP's phones. Some cafes have multiple satellites with this configuration. We have 3, which is 60 computers with webcams and IP phones.
The problem is that there was no support included with this package. Most cafe's are not working becasue there aren't any IT or computer geeks to keep them running. And if there are any Marines who could they are busy doing other things.
A wide wireless LAN is risky. The reason is Operational Security. Information is easier to leak if not controlled. So when a Marine sits down in the internet cafe we have signs posted and of course their background reminds them about OPSEC.
Also I have been looking for simple Internet Cafe software on Freshmeat and other places but have not found a good solution.
Currently we are reworking the contract. We are going to use this Internet cafe as a template for all others. I would LOVE suggestions from the Slashdot community on what they think. Please drop me an email or IM on your thoughts.