The Vital Role of a Field Service Representative: Securing Communications for Warfighters on the Field

Keith Tope , Vice President of Federal Services

Dealing with complex issues on the battlefield can create compromising situations for warfighters working to support the mission. In recent years, communication challenges including maintaining clear comms across long distances and within various environments, have become more prevalent. In 2024, while sailing the Baltic Sea, a Chinese cargo ship cut and severely damaged European data lines, limiting communications connectivity for weeks to come.  In 2022, three days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian troops were faced with limited communication and terrain challenges, leaving them vulnerable to less-than-ideal weather conditions and ultimately leading them into a traffic jam, delaying their plans.

With hybrid warfare and technological advancements changing the landscape, having clear communication that connects those deployed on the field, while remaining undetectable by adversaries, is essential to the success of the mission. Having a Field Service Representative (FSR) helps level the playing field and makes teams more knowledgeable about what’s ahead. When mitigating the complexity of tactical communications, FSRs act as a resource, tackling mission-critical issues and providing a stable point of contact for people deployed. They assist with navigating complex terrains and austere locations and help ensure mission success.

FSRs: The Backbone of Communication Networks

FSRs have always supported the mission in a critical way, securing clear communication for troops deployed in austere locations to mitigate challenges with ease. With signal interference and bandwidth challenges being leading issues with communication on the battlefield, it's even more critical to have an established network. When customers are operating in high-threat environments and not able to clearly receive communications due to environmental factors, situational challenges, or additional risks, the ability to communicate both strategy and objectives at that moment is vital to the success of the mission.

SOC FSRs are embedded in special units to bring their expertise and ensure mission success so the warfighter can stay connected to the mission. As subject matter experts, FSRs bolster the units deployed to focus on the mission but also ensure the next generation of comms units remains ready to continue supporting the Department of Defense and members of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Leveraging Innovations in Defense Communications

Innovations in communications technology have allowed FSRs to efficiently mitigate issues in those high-threat regions with ease. With a global focus on implementing more technological advances, updates to automated systems, and networked communication can change the way an FSR is able to respond to a challenge. In 2024, the U.K. Royal Navy awarded a communications contract to a company that found a way to repurpose Cold War tech called a tropospheric scatter into a mobile satellite called Comet. This compact yet powerful satellite exemplifies the opportunities that can emerge in defense telecommunications. Using modernized equipment, operators/FSRs are able to provide insight for people on the frontlines into environmental or situational challenges that lie on the battlefield.

The Landscape for War is Adapting to Include Modernized Capabilities

In 2023, the U.S. Army proposed a plan encompassing goals to evolve their communications by 2030. This plan discusses their need for innovative communications tools that will remain relevant through time and able to withstand threats from near-peer adversaries. Recently, a defense communications contractor was awarded nearly $300 million by the U.S. Army to continue providing critical resilient communications solutions. Under this deal, the Army will “be able to maintain communication solutions for U.S. soldiers and provide seamless interoperability from the tactical edge to the aerial tier in all operational environments, regardless of adversarial electronic warfare attacks” (BusinessWire, 2025). This contract further strengthens the collective goal of ensuring the Government has modernized communications capabilities able to deal with the changing landscape.

The Future of Field Communications

As the world continues to modernize, so will the telecommunications landscape. Getting ahead of technological advances always allows companies to remain mission-ready. For more than half a decade, SOC has served as the chosen partner of Systems Integrators in the defense and communications space, providing highly specialized assets in mobile environments, ensuring the successful training of tier-one units on the next generation of high frequency/radio frequency (HF/RF) communications equipment, tracked vehicle maintenance & repair, data collection and on-going reliability assessments.

With years of experience in C4ISR (including tracking, tagging, and locating solutions), cloud-based solutions, advanced mobile technologies, and secure communications, FSRs continue to ensure mission readiness and success.