Last modified Thu., May 03, 2007 - 10:49 AM
Originally created Thursday, May 3, 2007

Giant voice coming soon

By MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck, Staff Writer

NAS Jax Firefighter Mike Gardner operates a forklift as Firefighter James Fletcher guides him to a pallet containing control boxes for a new speaker system that will be set up on base next week. Photo by MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck

In the coming weeks people around NAS Jacksonville may believe they are hearing a voice from the sky, but in reality it will be the testing of the new Giant Voice Communication System.

"Giant Voice was developed to allow installation commanders the ability to communicate with personnel aboard the base at a moment's notice to provide immediate instruction regarding a hazard or incident that has just occurred which may threaten lives and/or infrastructure of the installation," said DCC(SW/AW) Darryl Melton, disaster preparedness coordinator at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

According to Melton, the system, once installed, can be operated from the Quarterdeck or the EOC. Who will operate it will depend upon the circumstance. For example, it could be the commanding or executive officer, fire department, emergency management, security, medical personnel or watchstanders.

"The speakers will be strategically located around the base to cover what are currently considered to be mission critical areas that may require immediate notification in order to sustain and support our mission," he continued.

Melton said the new system will be a vast improvement over what is currently in place. "We are going from the current four speakers to 10 and from a transistor radio to a full blown stereo system. It will greatly expand communication capabilities and allow for immediate mass notification of time critical information."

Melton said installation is scheduled through May 11 with testing occurring May 10-11. Further testing will take place during an extended tabletop chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive exercise on May 22. Testing will take three to four hours to complete. "Additionally, we will test the newly upgraded Telephone Alerting System which is being installed through tomorrow at Buildings 1 and 110," Melton said.