Ayios Nikolaos is about 20 minutes’ drive from Dhekelia Garrison, up against the border with the Turkish-Occupied North. The station is located in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA) on the main road to
Famagusta
. Our location places us just 20-30 minutes drive from Protaras & Ayia Napa, two of the islands most renowned night life and tourist areas. The station is home to the majority of JSSU Cyprus and it’s command.
All new arrivals will receive a brief from various people regarding all aspects of the Station. UK Dependents (UKDs) and UK based civilians (UKBCs) must also attend the new arrival brief, which is held at the Forum. It is compulsory for you and your spouse to attend this brief at the earliest opportunity.
Joint Service Signal Unit Cyprus
A fully integrated, proactive and responsive Joint Service Signal Unit, making a key contribution to Defence.’
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Colonel M S Dooley Royal Signals.
The Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus) (JSSU(Cyp)) was formed on 27 May 03 as a result of the amalgamation of Joint Service Signal Unit (Ayios Nikolaos) and elements of 12 Signal Unit RAF. As part of the Joint Service Signal Organisation, the Joint Service Signal Unit is a static communications organisation maintaining secure links from Cyprus to the rest of the world. The vast majority of the Unit’s personnel live and work in Ayios Nikolaos in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area, however the Unit also has large detachments at Akrotiri and Episkopi in the Western Sovereign Base Area and at the Retained Site in Troodos.
The JSSU(Cyp) is commanded by a Royal Signals Lieutenant Colonel, and officers from all three services make up the Unit’s hierarchy to ensure tri-service representation. Due to the range of complex communications equipment used, it also employs a large number of MOD civil servants and contractors as well as locally employed civilians. The Unit consists of 3 Squadrons: 1 Squadron is responsible for conducting operations, 2 Squadron for operational engineering support and Headquarters Squadron for defence, infrastructure and logistic support.
The Unit has Royal Signals personnel employed variously in the command and training role or as Special Operators, technicians, drivers and suppliers, and Royal Logistic Corps personnel employed as chefs, drivers and suppliers. Other Army Corps such as the Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps and Adjutant General’s Corps are also employed at JSSU (Cyp). Specialist Operators and Technicians stationed on Unit from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force work alongside the Army Corps personnel as well as a number of civilian personnel based at JSSU.