SFOR 7, like previous rotations in Bosnia, conducted a VTC
(Video Teleconference) each Monday through Friday evening. The
purpose was for all of the multinational division commanders to provide an
overview of the events in their AO (Area of Operations).
The arrangement was relatively simple - each division
commander would face into a camera and, when called upon by the SFOR
commander in Sarajevo, would brief for two to five minutes. Maj
General Halverson, the MND-N commander, was called upon first.
The SFOR VTC took place in the main briefing room known as
the DOC (Division Operations Center). MG Halverson would be seated
at the center of the briefing table facing a 32 inch TV screen displaying
the VTC feed from Sarajevo.
Prior to SFOR 7, a large painted backdrop with the MND-N
logo was wheeled out and placed behind the MND-N commander. This was
the standard background image that the other VTC participates would see in
the background whenever the MND-N commander gave his briefing.
Things changed a bit with the arrival of SFOR 7.
In late March, a large video display was installed in the
DOC, directly behind MG Halverson's chair. The video display was
basically a large computer monitor measuring 12 by 9 feet. Because
the screen was directly behind him, MG Halverson asked that the screen be
used for the backdrop rather than the static painting.
MG Halverson also wanted the background to be
different. He wanted the image to be symbolic of the Lone Star
state.
He wanted bluebonnets.
Putting a backdrop of bluebonnets created some interesting
challenges. First I had to create a large web page that could be
displayed on the large monitor (nicknamed "Bubbatron").
The web page approach allowed me to designate a specific area of the
screen to display the background image.
Another challenge was finding an image big enough for the
large video display. The video display actually consisted of nine
large monitors that were linked together. Images had to be very big
to be visible on the screen. I scoured the internet for a good
picture of a field of Texas bluebonnets. To make the image to appear
larger, I used a graphics program to stitch multiple images of the
bluebonnets together.
As a final touch, I inserted a picture of the Alamo into
the field of bluebonnets.
Everyone seemed pleased with the result and I thought my
work was done. I learned quickly enough that my work had just begun.
Following the debut of the new backdrop, MG Halverson
asked me to create a series of backdrops that would have the Alamo appear
with images from different countries. So for the rest of the
rotation, it was my job to come up with a different backdrop for each VTC
- six nights a week.
Below are a variety of backdrops I created for the
evening SFOR VTC's. Only a small portion of the backdrops are
currently featured. More will be added later.
All of the backdrops were selectable via the menu
on the ScribeVision Evening BUB display on the Clarity Screen in the DOC.
You can view a larger version of each backdrop by
clicking on the image.
WO1 Rodney Hammack
Last Updated: 05 Dec 2002
