 |
A U.S. Army Air Defense radar operator closes down the Sentinel radar due to heavy winds.
Photo by Pvt. Karima L. Mares, USA |
|
|
Large Force Employment
Exercise NORTHERN EDGE 2003 included a three-day, six-mission, Large Force Employment (LFE) exercise. Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Viall highlighted two primary LFE objectives. “First, it’s an opportunity to provide some quality LFE training for the units stationed at Alaska. Second, the LFE gives [Alaska Command] a chance to test our range systems and train some of our personnel such as mission directors, range training officers, and threat operators.”
The LFE provided training to maintain a high state of joint readiness and to sharpen skills to protect assets in the United States as well as preparing for worldwide deployments. “This LFE improves our capability to integrate and fight with our sister services as one warfighting team,” said Lt. Col. Viall.
|
Seabees Establish Communications
Before the exercise event began, U.S. Navy Seabees established communications so commanders could pass information to all levels of the chain of command. “If we don’t function, the operation doesn’t function,” said CPO Stephen Moore.
More than 20 Seabees encoded signals, so participants could send and receive information securely. By encrypting communications, commanders could exchange sensitive materials using radio waves, phone lines, and satellites without potential adversaries eavesdropping. The Seabees also built a secure tactical data network, allowing participants to communicate by e-mail and share data. “Using e-mail saves time,” CPO Moore said. “Units can receive information in real-world time, as it’s needed.”
The communications training for the Seabees is extensive and rewarding, noted CPO Moore. Not only do they enjoy setting up communication systems to protect operations, they also like having the opportunity to experiment and learn new things about their equipment during training.
CPO Moore and a group of fellow Seabees transmitted a message around the world via satellite. Nine seconds later, the group heard their voice after it traveled around the world at 9.6 million miles per hour (over 15 million kilometers per hour).
|
 |
A U.S. soldier places a brush back in a container of decontaminating solution before moving on to the next phase of a decontamination line. Soldiers trained U.S. Navy Seabees on the procedures troops must follow during decontamination.
Photo by Spec. Douglas DeMaio, USA |
|
 |
|
|
Homeland Defense Drill
In a homeland defense drill, a U.S. National Guardsmen Civil Support Team responded to a suspicious briefcase aboard the Bartlett, an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry boat. The team analyzed the briefcase to determine its contents and how to render it harmless if needed. “There are between 800 and 1,200 hours of training required for team members to become proficient,” said Air National Guardsman Maj. Brett Meyer. |
|
