An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Articles
Have a Soldier/Warfighter who takes pride and ownership of their assigned equipment? Then nominate them for PS Magazine's "I Own This" recognition program. Click HERE to learn more.
 
PS Magazine poster image which links to the posters page at https://www.psmagazine.army.mil/Resources/Posters/
Click on image above to view and
download 
this and other posters
Would you stake your life, right now, on the condition of your equipment?
Articles
NEWS | July 31, 2020

CSS VSATs—Update Now to Avoid Network Deletion

Setting up CSS VSAT
Photo by Capt. David Gasperson
 
Alert!

Units must update their Combat Service Support (CSS) Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) by August 17, 2020, to prevent the systems from being deleted from the network. Non-compliance will result in service disruption and blocked migration to the upgraded CSS network. 

Here are some CSS VSAT upgrade tips:
 
  1. Stay on the phone through the entire process. The allotted time for migration is two (2) hours; it typically takes less time if you’re prepared (see next tip). Units need to make sure that Soldiers stay on the call throughout the entire process to ensure the migration is complete. Otherwise, the system upgrade will be rescheduled, increasing the chance the system may be kicked out of the network on August 17, 2020.
     
  2. Preparation is key to a faster process. If units complete all the steps outlined in CECOM’s Maintenance Action Message (MAM) MA 20-01014 the process should take less than 30 minutes. But if the steps aren’t completed, then the process will take at least one (1) hour, and that is dependent on units having the correct option files and Advanced Cryptographic Capabilities (AAC) keys and fully mission-capable VSATs. To view the MAM, visit:
 
  1. Be ready at the scheduled time. Missing the window will result in units going to the back of the priority list, and losing their connectivity on August 17, 2020 if the Integrated Network Operations Center has to reschedule migration.​
     
  2. Loss of network connectivity. On August 17, 2020, units not migrated onto the new network will lose connectivity to the network, if the actions described in the MAM aren’t completed.
     
  3. Problems? Don’t get discouraged. Call (309) 644-5000. Just stay on the phone until the help desk technician answers. Your call will be answered.
For instructions on updating CSS VSATs (new baseline and firmware into modem, and Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert patches), refer to CECOM MAM MA 20-01014 (link above).
           
For answers to your questions, email one of the following:
 
Deron Marshall
 
Terri M. Jenkins
 
Walter Zurkowsky
 
Terell Williams

For general MAM guidance, email the CECOM MWO office:
 
CSS VSAT in the field
Photo by Amy Walker
Want to get better search results faster? 
Click the link below to access our "how to" guide
.
After entering a keyword, you must hit or click the Search bar/box below for the function to work.
Simply hitting Return won't yield results.
LOGSA Links/URLs
Note about links to archive articles

If you come across a link to a pre-2014 PS Magazine issue or article that uses LOGSA in the web address (URL), use this link instead:
 
For issues/articles from 2014 and after, click on the Archive/Index tab in the top menu of this website.

BE ADVISED: With the migration to Army365, emails in older articles may still reflect an @mail.mil address. To update, change the domain to @army.mil