New Cell Tower Brings Improved Wireless Service to USAG Hawaii

Military families, personnel and visitors at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii’s Helemano Military Reservation (HMR) will see improved wireless service—a significant Quality-of-Life improvement—thanks to a new cell tower from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.

The project includes 5G coverage for Verizon and AT&T and brings markedly improved wireless reception to a more remote location that had struggled with inadequate connectivity. Additional improvements for T-Mobile customers will be completed by the end of the year.

Located approximately 5 miles north above Wahiawa, HMR offers military housing for about 2,000 service members and families stationed at Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield.

“As professionals in the field of communication, we understand the significance of this cellphone tower in our close-knit community,” said 307^th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced Commander Lt. Col. Izabella Lundy. “This infrastructure will provide our Soldiers and their families with reliable access to emergency services, facilitate communication with loved ones, and support the seamless conduct of daily business.

“Witnessing the collaborative efforts of numerous organizations to make this project a reality has been truly inspiring.”

From left: Command Sgt. Maj. Mahoma Tello, 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced; Sgt. Maj. Generose Green, Exchange Pacific Region senior enlisted advisor; Col. Jason Beck, Exchange Pacific Region commander; Lt. Col. Izabella Lundy, 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced commander at the new cell tower at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii’s Helemano Military Reservation. The tower was constructed by and funded with Boingo Wireless. 

The tower, constructed by and funded with Boingo Wireless, is on the grounds of the Exchange’s HMR Express store in the center of the reservation and nicknamed “Dragon” for the 307th ESB-E, which is headquartered on HMR.

The military community celebrated the milestone Jan. 8 with a ceremony attended by Brig. Gen. Kevin Meisler, 311^th Signal Command (Theater) commanding general; Command Chief Warrant Officer Robert Christian, 311^th Signal Command (Theater); Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan DeHart, 311^th Signal Command (Theater); Col. Andrew Brokhoff, 516^th Signal Brigade commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Dominique Davis, 516^th Signal Brigade; Lt. Col. Izabella Lundy, 307^th ESB-E commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Mahoma Tello, 307^th ESB-E; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathaniel Floyd, Jr., 307^th ESB-E data operations warrant officer.

Also in attendance were Col. Jason Beck, Exchange Pacific Region commander; Sgt. Maj. Generose Green, Exchange Pacific Region senior enlisted advisor; Michael Ryan, Hawaii Consolidated Exchange general manager; William Earls, Exchange connectivity telecom program specialist; and Jackie Arbour, Boingo Wireless vice president of towers & small cells.

“The completion of the Dragon tower represents the Exchange’s continued efforts to bring the best to our deserving military communities,” Beck said. “When we think about being far away from home, staying connected is a priority and plays a significant role in readiness; if we know all is good on the home-front, we have clear minds to take care of the mission.

“The Dragon tower allows service members stationed on Helemano to be better connected to those they love near and far.”

The Dragon tower is one of 13 new or in-progress cell towers from the Exchange and Boingo to expand connectivity and reliability to military communities throughout USAG Hawaii.