Milcom Blog Logs - 5 Mar 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3308.0 HF-USB
0105Z - AFE7DM NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCTGM1 net: AFE5PI

3317.5 HF-USB
0136Z - NNN0ABO NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Missouri MARS 7H1B net: NNN0SVW

3325.0 HF-USB
0130Z - NNN0GAQ-4 NCS for a Navy/MC Region 5 Indiana MARS net: NNN0AKT / NNN0QDN-T

3390.0 HF-USB
0214Z - Navy/MC Region 4 MARS 4X9B net: NNN0ICX

3485.0 HF-USB
0007Z - New York Radio Volmet

4002.9 HF-LSB
0107Z - Army Region 4 MARS net: AAV4HA / AAM4TAL (idents as Alabama Training Net when checks in on Mississippi net)
0206Z - AAA4MS NCS for the Army Region 4 Mississippi MARS AAA4MS/A net: AAT4UE / AAM4TAL / AAM4EMS

4007.0 HF-USB
0002Z - NNN0APJ NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Nebraska / Kansas MARS 7N1B net: NNN0YQI / NNN0BQT / NNN0FCT / NNN0EBT
0035Z - NNN0SXU NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0BQH / NNN0XFB / NNN0AVS / NNN0OEE

4008.5 HF-USB
0013Z - NNN0AYZ NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Louisiana MARS 6L1B net
0211Z - NNN0VHO NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 South Texas MARS 6S1B net: NNN0ETI

4011.0 HF-USB
1401Z - NNN0YGW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Iowa MARS 7D1C net: NNN0TUL

4013.5 HF-USB
0117Z - NNN0ZEI NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Kentucky MARS 4K2B net: NNN0YTR / NNN0QLL

4035.9 HF-USB
0121Z - Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/IA net: AAR7AT
1403Z - AAM7IA NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/D net

4038.5 HF-USB
0212Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H2B net: NNN0PCC
0304Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net: NNN0NIG
1403Z - NNN0RBD NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H1B net

4041.0 HF-USB
0033Z - NNN0BSV NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Ohio MARS 5N5B net: NNN0LRD / NNN0VJM
0122Z - NNN0EVQ

4469.0 HF-USB
0103Z - Southeast Region CAP net: Florida-CAP-256 / Georgia-CAP-41 / Georgia-CAP-44
0200Z - Tennessee-CAP-404 NCS for a Southeast Region CAP net: Goldenrod-305 / Florida-CAP-4 / Florida-CAP-49 / Florida-CAP-293 / Florida-CAP-256 / Florida-CAP-251 / Florida-CAP-245 / Mockingbird-08 / Florida-CAP-238 / Florida-CAP-204

4470.5 HF-USB
0300Z - NNN0XFB NCS for the Navy/MC Region 8 North / South Dakota MARS 8S1B net: NNN0AXK / NNN0FCI

4506.0 HF-USB
0001Z - MO-CAP-10 NCS for the North Central Region Missouri "MO-CAP" CAP net
1400Z - Red-Cloud-335 NCS for the North Central Region Nebraska "Red-Cloud" CAP net: Iowa-CAP-102 (mobile)
1430Z - Iowa-CAP-04 NCS for the North Central Region Iowa CAP net

4517.0 HF-USB
1405Z - AFN7NC NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM3 net: AFE7DM / AFA5DJ / AFA7MC

4601.0 HF-USB
0100Z - Blue-Mesa-327 NCS for the Rocky Mountain Region Colorado Wing HF net: Star-Garnet-224 / Aspen-Gold-67

4604.0 HF-USB
0001Z - Red-Fire-114 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Indiana "Red_Fire" CAP net
0030Z - Red-Fox-79 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Illinois "Red_Fox" CAP net
0102Z - Blue-Mound-03 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Wisconsin "Blue-Mound" CAP net
0200Z - Red-Robin-127 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Michigan "Red-Robin" CAP net
1400Z - Red-Robin-127 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Michigan "Red-Robin" CAP net
1430Z - Red-Fox-17 NCS for the Great Lakes "Blue Lake" Region CAP net
2230Z - Red-Fox-17 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Illinois "Red_Fox" CAP net
2300Z - Kentucky-CAP-148 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Kentucky CAP net
2330Z - Columbus-04 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Ohio "Columbus" CAP net

4623.5 HF-USB
0032Z - NNN0HAC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I2B net: NNN0SCV / NNN0AEN
1404Z - NNN0SXP NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Wisconsin MARS 5W4B net: NNN0TDA
1501Z - NNN0EQH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I3B net: NNN0AQP / NNN0AFK / NNN0TGC / NNN0JAH-T

4825.0 HF-USB
2301Z - NNN0FWM NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X4B net: NNN0WKH / NNN0AGB

5004.5 HF-USB
1502Z - NNN0AHH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X2B net: NNN0ZLC / NNN0YFA / NNN0HKQ / NNN0JIX / NNN0IVV

5171.0 HF-USB
0007Z - Link-11 data transmission

6715.0 HF-USB
[06:19:34][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][MCCSPR ][AL0] BER 19 SN 07
MCCSPR - McClellan HF-GCS Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, CA
[10:50:38][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][JNR ][AL0] BER 14 SN 05
JNR - Puerto Rico HF-GCS, Salinas, PR

6855.0 HF-AM
2100Z - YL in 5F Spanish numbers msg tfc preceded by "Atencion 71501 80552 87681"

7302.0 HF-USB
1427Z - AFF6RM NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M1 net

7457.0 HF-USB
1414Z - Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFF4MS / AFA4WJ

7887.0 HF-AM
2000Z - YL in 5F Spanish numbers msg tfc preceded by "Atencion 71501 80552 87681"

8912.0 HF-USB
0210Z - Juliet-16 rpts position as 3038N 08803W

8992.0 HF-USB
1530Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass two 6 character EAMs LXT3GG & LXZ6XU preceded by "For Head Count"
2223Z - Zapper-11 terminate comms w/ Offutt (HF-GCS)

9121.5 HF-USB
0252Z - Link-11 data transmission

10194.0 HF-USB
1650Z - Link-11 data transmission
[18:07:54][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8FEM006 ][AL0] BER 15 SN 06
FC8FEM006 - FEMA, Region 8
[18:41:12][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6 ][AL0] BER 16 SN 05
FC6 - FEMA, Region 6
[19:41:23][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6FEM ][AL0] BER 22 SN 06
FC6FEM - FEMA, Region 6
[19:50:45][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8 ][AL0] BER 11 SN 06
FC8 - FEMA, Region 8

10895.0 HF-USB
1651Z - Link-11 data transmission

11016.0 HF-USB
1652Z - Link-11 data transmission

11175.0 HF-USB
1601Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44UAFY to All Stations

11494.0 HF-USB
[22:43:11][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][I4J ][AL0] BER 14 SN 05
I4J - CBP CESSNA 550 #N5314J, San Angelo AMB, TX

13200.0 HF-USB
1551Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44G57D to All Stations

15016.0 HF-USB
1530Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass two 6 character EAMs LXT3GG & LXZ6XU preceded by "For (sound like) Head Count"
1551Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44G57D to All Stations
1600Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44G57D & two 6 character EAMs LXT3GG & LXZ6XU preceded by "For (sound like) Head Count"
1601Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44UAFY to All Stations
1617Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44K6II pass by USSTRATCOM ABNCP
1621Z - ______ repeats 28 character EAM 44K6II pass by USSTRATCOM ABNCP & Andrews (HF-GCS)
1630Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAMs 44K6II; 44UAFY & 22 character EAM 44G57D

Milcom Blog Logs - 4 Mar 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3308.0 HF-USB
0143Z - AFF7IA NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region 7 Iowa MARS 7IAS1 net: AFF5MI
0200Z - AFN7NC NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM1 voice & digital net; voice only stations check in: AFF5MI / AFD7NC

3317.5 HF-USB
0133Z - NNN0THC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Missouri MARS 7H1B net: NNN0SVW / NNN0HBY

3370.5 HF-USB
0203Z - AFA6MM NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M3 net: AFA6KJ / AFA6CG / AFA6JY / AFF6EC / AFA6PH / AFA6CM / AFA6LY

4007.0 HF-USB
0034Z - NNN0KZC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0SXU announces that the 5G3C training net will follow immediately after this net / NNN0XYA / NNN0XFB / NNN0AAT / NNN0BQH / NNN0AQK / NNN0AXK / NNN0HAN-T
0045Z - NNN0GAZ-3 NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G3C net: NNN0GAZ-4 / NNN0HAN-T

4011.0 HF-USB
0004Z - NNN0HPU NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Arkansas MARS 6A1B net: NNN0KUR
1404Z - NNN0YGW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Iowa MARS 7D1C net: NNN0EHQ
2336Z - NNN0FFN NCS for the Navy/ MC Region 2 Northern New York MARS 2J1B net: NNN0BHY / NNN0FYU

4013.5 HF-USB
0107Z - NNN0VWV NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Kentucky MARS 4K2B net: NNN0XPU / NNN0ZEU-T / NNN0BTG / NNN0YWA

4023.9 HF-USB
0003Z - AAM5OH NCS for the Army Region 5 Ohio MARS AAA5RD/OH net: AAR5XL

4035.9 HF-USB
0111Z - AAM7IA NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/IA net: AAR7AT / NNN0FCT / AAF7FD
0215Z - AAR7AT NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/B net: AAM7AKS / AAM7EMO / AAT2AG (NJ) / AAT7FD / AAR7HH / AAR7AL / AAR2CG-T (NNY) / AAM7IA
1402Z - AAA7MO NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/D net: AAM7EMO / AAA7NE / AAM7AKS / AAT7ZH / AAM7RD / AAA7RD / AAM7ENE / AAR7OU

4041.0 HF-USB
0115Z - NNN0EVQ / NNN0VJM / NNN0FKV / NNN0OON / NNN0VBH / NNN0BBZ - discussion concerning what version of UI software each station currently has for digital msg tfc

4469.0 HF-USB
0100Z - Goldenrod-595 NCS for the Southeast Region Alabama "Goldenrod" CAP net: Goldenrod-181 / Goldenrod-180 / Goldenrod-179 / South-East-CAP-43 / Florida-CAP-44 / Florida-CAP-449 / Georgia-CAP-44 / Georgia-CAP-04 VHF / Mockingbird-04 / Florida-CAP-256 / Iowa-CAP-101

4500.0 HF-USB
0030Z - AFF4VN NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S1 net: AFA4BE / AFA4RA / AFE4TN

4517.0 HF-USB
1407Z - AFF7KS NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM3 net: AFA5JM / AFE7DM

4593.5 HF-USB
0027Z - AFA3AD NCS for the Air Force Region 1 MARS NE2S1 net: AFA5NF (ANCS) / AFF5IN / AFA2RU / AFA1BY

4604.0 HF-USB
0002Z - Red-Fire-114 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Indiana "Red_Fire" CAP net: Goldenrod-595
1400Z - Red-___-## NCS for the Great Lakes Region Michigan "Red-Robin" CAP net
2230Z - Great Lakes Region Illinois "Red-Fox" CAP net: Red-Fox-17 / Red-Fox-93
2300Z - Kentucky-CAP-148 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Kentucky CAP net

4623.5 HF-USB
1501Z - NNN0EQH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I3B net: NNN0SCV

4627.0 HF-USB
0131Z - Wild-Wood-46 NCS for the Southwest Region Arkansas "Wild-Wood" CAP net: Wild-Wood-6704 / Wild-Wood-9704 / Wild-Wood-707 / Wild-Wood-45

4721.0 HF-USB
[04:46:18][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 14 SN 06
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD

4825.0 HF-USB
2305Z - NNN0SLA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X4B net: NNN0WKH / NNN0KYF / NNN0HZN / NNN0YFA / NNN0FWM / NNN0FCT

5004.5 HF-USB
1502Z - NNN0GLK NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X2B net: NNN0IVV / NNN0AHH

5708.0 HF-USB
[07:44:54][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 11 SN 04
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD

6855.0 HF-AM
2100Z - YL in 5F Spanish numbers msg tfc preceded by "Atencion 48032 26501 80381"

7302.0 HF-USB
1414Z - AFF6RM NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M1 net

7457.0 HF-USB
1416Z - AFA4WJ NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFA4BY / AFE4TN / AFA4CV / AFA4GL-T / AFA4FH-T / AFF4DM / AFA4FE-T

7887.0 HF-AM
2000Z - YL in 5F Spanish numbers msg tfc preceded by "Atencion 48032 26501 80381"

13200.0 HF-USB
2100Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44G??E

15016.0 HF-USB
1649z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44B2UE to All Stations
1653Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44XT5F to All Stations
1700Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44WSW7 to All Stations
1703Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44XT5F

18003.0 HF-USB
[21:06:41][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][JNR ][AL0] BER 19 SN 06
JNR - Puerto Rico HF-GCS, Salinas, PR

Missouri Air Guard C-130s, crews fly to Chile

by Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill, Special to American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Two Missouri Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with 47 crewmembers are en route March 5, to aid earthquake-ravaged Chile.

139th Airlift Wing officials sent the two aircraft, crews and maintenance support personnel from Puerto Rico, where they had been supporting U.S. Southern Command, to Santiago, Chile, March 4, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced in a news release.

Wing officials are scheduled to send additional aircraft and crews to Santiago in the coming weeks, Missouri Guard officials said.
The guardsmen supported earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, flying personnel and supplies to Port-au-Prince.

"The men and women of the Missouri Air Guard are uniquely qualified to provide emergency response, relief and recovery services, both at home and abroad," Governor Nixon said. "I am especially proud of the skill and professionalism of our Air Guard units, and I know they will provide invaluable service to the people of Chile during this time of need."

C-130 aircraft are used to airlift people and cargo long distances in all weather conditions day and night from low to high altitudes and can land in austere areas.

"The 139th Airlift Wing is again at the tip of the spear in supporting humanitarian relief efforts," said Col. Michael McEnulty, the 139th Airlift Wing commander. "We are always leaning forward to come to the aid of those who have been affected by disasters, whether at home or abroad."

Missouri sits on the New Madrid fault, named for the Missouri town hit in 1811 and 1812 by some of the strongest earthquakes in North American history.

Missouri National Guard Airmen routinely train for earthquake response and host national earthquake planning workshops. At the most recent, in September, more than 200 Guard officials and representatives of civilian agencies from eight states discussed emergency response to a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone.

National Guard Airmen are uniquely qualified to respond, a Missouri University of Science and Technology geological engineer told the workshop.

"That's because the National Guard has combat engineering familiarity and background and in a combat situation you don't control the cards you are dealt," David Rogers said. "The response in an emergency situation has to be fluid and capable of changing. There is no manual for disaster response."

National Guard members have a history of responding to earthquakes that goes back at least 100 years. And Guard members have decades of experience supporting disaster relief operations in Central and South America.

In 1906, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit San Francisco, California National Guard members didn't even bother waiting for orders; they just started showing up at their armories ready to assist, which the Guard did in support of civilian agencies throughout the aftermath.

"The work done and still being done by the National Guard members will be long and gratefully remembered," a newspaper editorial stated. "Our present National Guard is descended in direct official line from those citizen soldiers that stood, yielding not, at Saratoga, Ticonderoga, Stony Point and Yorktown, and have proved themselves worthy of their ancestors."

Earthquakes are notoriously unpredictable. Scientists debate whether even trying to predict them is a worthwhile exercise, and the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center flatly states that they cannot be predicted, while also noting that there is a 100 percent chance that one will strike somewhere on the planet today.

In 1990, a New Mexico climatological consultant predicted devastation coming to New Madrid, Mo., on Dec. 3 that year. The prediction was enough to spark state planning, but the day came and went without incident.

As scientists try to predict where the next big earthquake is likely to strike in the United States, National Guard members stand ready to respond, Guard officials said.

"The National Guard has the trained personnel, the equipment and the command and control capabilities in order to execute this mission to help provide food, water, electricity; anything the citizens would be in need of during a major disaster such as an earthquake," said Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri's adjutant general.

B-2s arrive at Andersen

A B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., gets airborne while another B-2 waits for clearance March 4, 2010, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. More than 270 Airmen and four B-2 Spirits are deployed to Andersen AFB supporting the Pacific regions continuous bomber presence. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- More than 240 Airmen from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., arrived here in late February to support the deployment of B-2 Spirits as part of the continuous bomber presence here.

The Airmen and aircraft replaced the servicemembers and the B-52 Stratofortresses deployed here from Barksdale AFB, La.

Andersen AFB has had bombers present on its runway since 2004, the year the continuous bomber presence mission began.

The B-2's stealth characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued and heavily defended targets. The bomber's capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provides a strong effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.

The B-2s join forces with F-22 Raptors deployed from the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, as part of the theater security package. The tandem of premier airframes creates a formidable alliance supporting Andersen AFB's mission within the Pacific region. This is the second pairing of these airframes for this mission.

Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group Conducts PMINT

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez, USS Peleliu Public Affairs

USS PELELIU, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) Feb. 22-March 5, off the coast of Southern California.

PMINT is the first stage of training where more than 1,800 Sailors comprised of USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) integrated with more than 1,600 Marines from 15th MEU, in preparation for their upcoming Western Pacific deployment.

The exercise enhanced operability between the Sailors and Marines during the 10-day underway period.

"PHIBRON and MEU integration allows us to get underway with the Marines, and operate together for the first time," said Capt. Dale Fuller, commander, PHIBRON 3, "We go through all our standard operating procedures, whether they be air operations or well deck operations."

PMINT allows Sailors and Marines to work with each other to begin forming a "blue-green" team.

"For the Marines, the integration is more significant because they need to find where their berthing is located, how to move their equipment around the ship, how to do egress procedures on the ship, how to learn the ship's policy, gym hours, and store hours," said Fuller. "It's truly an integration process in which we learn how to operate together and work as a team."

According to Lance Cpl. Ron Meier, assigned to the 15th MEU, the Sailors aboard the Peleliu have been very welcoming.

"The Sailors aboard the ship are very helpful and friendly. If we have questions, they are sure to point us in the right direction," said Meier, "I enjoy ship life. You get to see your friends and meet a lot more people."

Since the 2008 deployment, many new faces have arrived on both sides of the blue - green team.

"It's important the Marines come aboard the ship because many of us don't have any prior experience in working together," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Buress, operations chief for the Air Combat Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced). "In order to prepare ourselves to go forward and conduct operations, we need to know the Navy's training techniques aboard a ship to create a more advanced fighting force."

With PMINT complete, the Sailors and Marines look to push forward to the remaining exercises.

"Being the commodore of PHIBRON 3 and working with the 15th MEU has been a fantastic experience to start this integrated training phase for the Amphibious Ready Group," said Fuller. "This advanced training will form us in to a formidable force to be used as a national asset for the United States.

Singapore warns of terror threat in Malacca Strait

Singapore's Navy warned that a terrorist group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Malacca Straits, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes according to Associated Press reports/

Terrorists may also be targeting other vessels in the shipping lane off Malaysia's east coast, according to an advisory issued Wednesday by the Navy's Information Fusion Centre seen by The Associated Press.

You can read the complete story at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100304/ap_on_re_as/as_singapore_terror_threat

For those with HF capability in the region you can monitor the Singapore Navy on the following frequencies (ALE/USB): 4540.0 5220.5 6697.5 6748.5 8150.0 8386.0 9200.0 11078.0 11234.0 14757.0 kHz

Malaysian Navy frequencies (9MR Johor Baharu (Lumut)) have been reported recently in RTTY and CW on the following frequencies: 3159.0 5065.0 6462.0 6473.0 6483.0 8192.0 8292.0 8462.0 12783.5 kHz

HAARP -- A Joint DoD Facility Creates Mini Ionosphere

By Bob Freeman, Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- At a facility in a remote part of south-central Alaska, the largest radio transmitter on Earth sends high-frequency signals into the ionosphere to better understand the influence of charged particles on radio communications and satellite surveillance systems.

Surprisingly, it is also able to create a mini-ionosphere.

"The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, a program known as HAARP, is basically a joint Air Force-Navy program to investigate ionospheric physics and radio science," explained James Battis, HAARP program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory in a Feb. 24 interview on Pentagon Web Radio's audio Webcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military."

Battis was joined in the interview by Dr. Craig Selcher, HAARP program manager at the Naval Research Laboratory, and Dr. Todd Pedersen, a senior research physicist at AFRL.

"The ionosphere is a region of the upper atmosphere where there are a significant number of charged particles," Pedersen said. He explained that energy from the sun, particularly in the ultraviolet wavelengths, strikes atmospheric gas molecules and atoms with enough force to dislodge electrons. This results in a field of negatively charged electrons and positively charged atoms and molecules [ions], maintained in a plasma state, which conducts electrical currents and responds to electric and magnetic fields.

Battis mentioned that radio waves passing through the ionosphere are affected by the charged particles. "This can affect things like the quality of the signal from a satellite to the ground, or short-wave communications from ground to ground," he said.

Battis added that the signals from satellite-based surveillance and positioning systems can also be affected by the ionosphere. "When the signals from GPS come down [from the satellite], their paths are actually deflected by the structure of the ionosphere and some GPS errors are due to distortions created by the ionosphere." He explained that while the error may not be significant to the average user, for military precise positioning these errors can be significant. "That's one of the reasons DoD is interested," he noted.

But the scientists all agreed that communications are the major reason for DoD interest.

"These are the transmissions which are used to communicate with aircraft and satellites, so the Air Force is interested largely in affects of the ionosphere on communications," Battis said.

"We have ships all over the globe that we want to be in contact with at all times, so any affect the ionosphere has on communications is something that we want to study," Selcher said.

Battis noted that the research conducted by HAARP will benefit civilian communication systems as well, including those supporting civil aviation and ground communications.

"Satellite radio and satellite television can also be impacted by naturally-occurring ionospheric conditions," Selcher added. "And trying to understand those is to begin to learn to predict, and maybe to ameliorate the problem."

Battis described much of the previous ionospheric research as passive, with the evaluation of ionospheric effects based on the quality of reception of a normally transmitted radio signal. "The radio waves we transmit from the array at our facility actively create processes and interactions with the particles in the ionosphere. Hopefully, we can learn what the responses are and how to use them to improve transmissions through the ionosphere," he said.

"We have radio-wave sensors which send waves up to the ionosphere and listen for a reflection or an echo off something up there," Pedersen remarked. "And we have passive sensors that will listen to waves produced in the ionosphere, and also optical sensors."

Pedersen explained that when energy is directed at the ionosphere, some of it eventually comes back in the form of radio waves and some in the form of optical emissions. "When these electrons get moved around by the electric field, they ultimately run into molecules up there, and when they have enough energy they'll become excited and give off light, just like the inside of a fluorescent light bulb," he said.

Battis and Selcher observed that the radio waves emitted from the HAARP array create reactions that mimic natural processes in the ionosphere, but they are more controlled and their time and frequency input is measured, allowing the researchers to differentiate them from natural occurrences and better understand the processes at play.

"You can actually repeat the experiment again and again to verify that you're getting the right data, and that the data means what you think it means," Selcher explained.

Battis described the unique nature of the HAARP array, consisting of 180 transmitters distributed over 35 to 40 acres of land, with a frequency range of 2.65 to 10 megahertz. "We can actually direct the signal within about 15 degrees of the zenith and move the signal in time," he said. "So we can paint the sky. Similar facilities are typically restricted to three or four frequencies in that band, whereas we're able to do more continuous frequencies," Battis noted.

"That allows you to really expand the kind of experiments that you can do," Selcher added. "You can start sweeping the beam around in space and you can change frequencies to determine if there's a frequency that has a stronger interaction with the ionosphere."

Pedersen described a surprising advance in the use of HAARP transmitters. He explained that at full power HAARP is energetic enough that its signals not only light up the gas molecules, they're also able to knock additional electrons off, creating small areas of artificial plasma.

"Sunlight does that, and that's how we get the ionosphere in the first place," Pedersen said. "The aurora also does it. Electrons come shooting in from the aurora, from far out in space, hit the gas molecules, knock electrons off, and create a temporary ionosphere for the duration of time the aurora is there," he explained.

In short, HAARP is able to create a small addition to the ionosphere. "We can add to the ionosphere enough that we can actually start doing experiments in that little spot of plasma that we created from the transmitter," Pedersen said.

Pedersen remarked that the next step was to figure out exactly what's happening in this artificial plasma and how to control it.

"This field has been data-starved for many, many years," Selcher noted, "because there weren't enough facilities that had the kind of power that HAARP has." He explained that theorists proposed many ideas to explain ionospheric interactions, but the data wasn't available to support them. HAARP is changing that.

"It's a nice position to be in as an experimentalist," he said.

Milcom Blog Logs - 3 Mar 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3308.0 HF-USB
0135Z - AFE7DM NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCTSM1: AFA7HY / AFA7HZ
0212Z - Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM1 net: AFA7HY

3325.0 HF-USB
0134Z - NNN0IEA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Indiana MARS 5B1B net: NNN0XES

4007.0 HF-USB
0030Z - NNN0BQH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0AXK / NNN0XYA

4008.5 HF-USB
0207Z - Navy/MC Region 6 South Texas MARS 6S1B net: NNN0GLK / NNN0VHO

4017.9 HF-USB
1507Z - AAR8GG NCS for the Army Region 8 MARS AAA8RD/C net: AAM8EID / AAM8CO / AAM8EMT / AAM8TCO / AAM8TUT / AAA8CO / AAR8BB / AAR8AM / AAR8AV

4020.9 HF-USB
0207Z - Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAM6AR
1306Z - AAR6HB NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAM6OK
1417Z - Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAR6LN / AAR6CQ

4035.9 HF-USB
1304Z - AAM7EKS NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/C net: AAM7RT
1415Z - Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/D net: AAM7MO / AAM7RD

4038.5 HF-USB
0006Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Florida MARS 4C3B net: NNN0HYV / NNN0ABZ / NNN0TAK
0209Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H2B net: NNN0HEL
0301Z - NNN0QAA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net: NNN0SWS-T / NNN0EZC / NNN0SWK
1302Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A1B net: NNN0SYH / NNN0TWA / NNN0IIE
1419Z - NNN0TWA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H1B net

4041.0 HF-USB
0036Z - NNN0GBN-4 NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Ohio MARS 5N7C net: NNN0EVQ / NNN0ANN / NNN0KRQ / NNN0EBA / NNN0ICH

4469.0 HF-USB
0102Z - Georgia-CAP-41 NCS for Southeast Region directed HF net: Southeast-CAP-43 / Georgia-CAP-04 / Georgia-CAP-44 / Florida-CAP-44 / Florida-CAP-449 / Tennessee-CAP-248 / Tennessee-CAP-222 / Goldenrod-04 / White-Peak-####

4470.5 HF-USB
0300Z - NNN0FCI NCS for the Navy/MC Region 8 North / South Dakota MARS 8S1B net: NNN0AXK / NNN0XFB

4506.0 HF-USB
1401Z - Red-Cloud-194 NCS for the North Central Region Nebraska "Red-Cloud" CAP net
1431Z - Iowa-CAP-04 NCS for the North Central Region Iowa CAP net

4517.0 HF-USB
1404Z - AFA5GK NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM3 net: AFA7MR / AFA5OZ

4604.0 HF-USB
0101Z - Blue-Mound-03 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Wisconsin "Blue-Mound" CAP net
1401Z - Great Lakes Region Michigan "Red-Robin" CAP net
1431Z - Great Lakes "Blue Lake" Region CAP net: Columbus-604 check in w/no tfc
2301Z - Kentucky-CAP-148 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Kentucky CAP net
2330Z - Columbus-04 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Ohio "Columbus" CAP net

4623.5 HF-USB
1402Z - Navy/MC Region 5 Wisconsin MARS 5W4B net: NNN0SXP
1501Z - NNN0EQH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I3B net: NNN0SCV

4627.0 HF-USB
0130Z - Wild-wood-45 NCS for the Southwest Region Arkansas "Wild-Wood" CAP net

4630.0 HF-USB
0100Z - Southwest Region Texas CAP net conduct roll-call

4721.0 HF-USB
[03:23:10][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][538029 ][AL0] BER 17 SN 05
538029 - 63-8029 KC-135R 18646 126th ARS act mar92 sep07 WI ANG
[06:07:31][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][160 ][AL0] BER 14 SN 05
160 - Unknown

4724.0 HF-USB
0100Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44O6NA; 28 character EAM 44CA67 & 28 character EAM 44TDT3
0130Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44O6NA; 28 character EAM 44CA67 & 28 character EAM 44TDT3

4865.0 HF-USB
0504Z - Link-11 data transmission

5004.5 HF-USB
1503Z - NNN0ENS NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X2B net: NNN0YFA / NNN0HKQ / NNN0ZLC / NNN0APN / NNN0AHH

6739.0 HF-USB
0030Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44O6NA; 28 character EAM 44CA67 & 28 character EAM 44TDT3

6765.0 HF-USB
1550Z - NNN0EPY / NNN0ANH / AAR7AL / NNN0OAR as NCS for the SHARES Northern Weekly net: NCS009 check in & is going digital on CHANNEL-15 @ 1600Z

6910.0 HF-USB
1629Z - SHARES Southern Weekly net: NNN0VHO

7302.0 HF-USB
1406Z - AFA6CN NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M1 net

7457.0 HF-USB
1407Z - AFF4AL NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFA4GC / AFF4MS / AFA4II / AFA4WJ / AFA4SF / AFA4ZB / AFA4LI / AFA4TC / AFF4DM / AFA4DG / AFA4ZX / AFA4SA / AFA4FH-T / AFA4IS / AFA4IU

8983.0 HF-USB
1529Z - CG 2121 calz Camslant

8992.0 HF-USB
1603Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 39 character EAM MUJ4Q3

9121.5 HF-USB
0506Z - Link-11 data transmission

10194.0 HF-USB
[16:34:51][CHN 01][TO ][CA9FEM ][TIS][@C0 ][AL0] BER 8 SN 04
CA9FEM - California Emergency Management Agency Sacramento, CA WGY 939 @C0 - ? ((postulate should be FC0))
[18:05:22][CHN 01][TO ][MT8FEM ][TWS][FC8FEM ][AL0] BER 15 SN 04
MT8FEM Montana Division of Disaster & Emergency Services (JFHQ-MT) Fort Harrison, MT WGY 958
[18:10:38][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][MT8 ][AL0] BER 15 SN 04
MT8 - Montana Division of Disaster & Emergency Services
[18:10:42][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][MT8FEM ][AL0] BER 18 SN 04
MT8FEM Montana Division of Disaster & Emergency Services (JFHQ-MT) Fort Harrison, MT WGY 958
[19:50:38][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8 ][AL0] BER 11 SN 04
FC8 - FEMA, Region 8
[20:07:03][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8 ][AL0] BER 16 SN 04
FC8 - FEMA, Region 8
[21:17:47][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC4 ][AL0] BER 13 SN 04
FC4 - FEMA, Region 4
[21:40:43][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FR4FEM ][AL0] BER 9 SN 04
FR4FEM - FEMA, Region 4

10895.0 HF-USB
1600Z - Link-11 data transmission

11175.0 HF-USB
0200Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44O6NA; 28 character EAM 44CA67 & 28 character EAM 44TDT3
1603Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 39 character EAM MUJ4Q3

11220.0 HF-USB
2205Z - Otis-81 in pp provided by Puerto Rico (HF-GCS) to ______ for weather @ ______ for ____Z

11226.0 HF-USB
[22:23:05][CHN 01][TO ][ADW ][TWS][E30002 ][AL0] BER 20 SN 06
[AMD]CCCCD8,3392423NNNN

13200.0 HF-USB
1603Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 39 character EAM MUJ4Q3

14265.0 HF-USB
1541Z - N3HBX NCS for the SATERN Training net // closes net @ 1543Z

14396.5 HF-USB
1545Z - AAV4AR NCS for the SHARES National Admin net: NCS202 / NNN0EBC check in & goes to NE / NCS009 / NNN0BMV

15016.0 HF-USB
1600Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44A2VQ
1603Z - Andrews (HF-GC) pass preamble for 22 character EAM 44A2VQ then "disregard this transmission, Andrews out" statement
1603Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 39 character EAM MUJ4Q3
1630Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44A2VQ & 39 character EAM MUJ4Q3

Milcom Blog Logs - Mar 2-3, 2010 - Kentucky

Our Blue Grass state reporter Jack Metcalfe checks in with the following HF intercepts. I am still looking for a positive ID on ALE address VA78CTSCSP. If you have any tieups on this address, please contact me at the email address in the masthead.

5010.0 2OE & 2BO, unid stations: 0125 USB ALE (02/MAR/2010)

11451.0 MDTNNJ189P, Telecom NS/EP Portable station, Middletown, NJ, also ID'ed in voice as KNY91 (NCS designator): 1622 USB ALE & Voice (03/MAR/2010)

14455.0 KHA908, NASA, Mountain View, CA as net control for the weekly NASA HF Radio Net: 1635 USB Voice. Other stations in the net:

KHA945 Huntsville, AL
KHA948 Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL
KHA959 Wallops Island Flight Facility, Virginia (03/MAR/2010)

7632.0 NNN0ELA, USN/USMC MARS station & NNN0EBC, USN/USMC MARS station in SHARES Regional Net comms: 1707 CW (03/MAR/2010)

11473.5 NCS301, National Communications System Auxiliary station in SHARES net comms: 1740 CW (03/MAR/2010)

7553.6 Unid station with Five-letter groups: 2004 CW (03/MAR/2010)

10871.6 D beacon, Russian Navy, Odessa, Ukraine. Good signals with 350' long wire oriented NE/SW: 2320 CW (03/MAR/2010)

Milcom Blog Logs - HF Mar 1-3, 2010 - Mid Atlantic

Our regular MMP reporter Ron P in the Mid Atlantic checks in again with his military/government HF logs from Mar 1-3. All times UTC and Frequencies in kHz.

1 Mar:

02414.0 MA1NC (EOC, Manchester NH): 0600 USB/ALE sounding.

09462.0 NJ2FEM (New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, West Trenton NJ): 1355 USB/ALE sounding.

09462.0 MA1FEM (Massachussetts Emergency Management, Framingham MA): 1530 USB/ALE sounding.

14654.5 NORTHSTAR2 (unid): 1830 USB/ALE sounding.

19248.5 USARC5 (unid): 2007 USB/ALE sounding.

08330.0 O/M (Italian): 2143 USB w/O/M (Italian). Prob maritime link.

09090.0 O/M (Spanish): 2158 USB w/O/M (Spanish).

2 Mar:

05361.5 JFHQME (Joint Force Hqs, Maine ArNG, Camp Keyes, Augusta ME): 0420 USB/ALE sounding.

05361.5 T1126 (1st Battalion - 126th Aviation Regiment (LUH), Rhode Island Army National Guard): 1000 USB/ALE sounding.

05361.5 PR013 (unid): 1130 USB/ALE sounding.

19248.5 PR013 (unid): 1745 USB/ALE sounding.

14654.5 NORTHSTAR2 (unid): 1955 USB/ALE sounding.

07588.5 PR013 (unid): 2149 USB/ALE sounding.

09047.0 034MERCAP (Civil Air Patrol, Mid Eastern Region): 2221 USB/ALE sounding.

09045.7 Unid Egyptian Embassy: 2223 SITOR/ARQ w/ATU-80 msgs. Blkd by USB/ALE on 09047.0.

07665.0 034MERCAP (Civil Air Patrol, Mid Eastern Region): 2229 USB/ALE sounding.

3 Mar:

08345.0 RKO81 (Russian Navy): 0007 CW.

04490.0 KNY91 (Nat'l Communications System (NCS),Cheyenne, WY): 1145 USB/ALE calling 728P1WPEH (AT&T,Conyers, GA).

04490.0 728P1WPEH (AT&T,Conyers, GA): 1200 USB/ALE calling KNY72 (NCS/NTCN, Conyers, GA).

04490.0 AAT3BF (Army MARS Delaware): 1210 USB/ALE sounding.

04490.0 KGD34 (SHARES Master Coordination Station:Arlington, VA): 1430 USB/ALE sounding.

14396.5 NNN0BMV (Navy/Marine MARS-acting as Net Control): 1537 USB w/weekly SHARES check ins. Noted were: WGY948 (South Dakota State EOC, Bismark SD); AAR1BG (Army MARS); NCS009; NCS202. 04490.0 KNY91 (Nat'l Communications System (NCS),Cheyenne, WY): 1145 USB/ALE calling 728P1WPEH (AT&T,Conyers, GA).

04490.0 728P1WPEH (AT&T,Conyers, GA): 1200 USB/ALE calling KNY72 (NCS/NTCN, Conyers, GA).

04490.0 AAT3BF (Army MARS Delaware): 1210 USB/ALE sounding.

04490.0 KGD34 (SHARES Master Coordination Station:Arlington, VA): 1430 USB/ALE sounding.

14396.5 NNN0BMV (Navy/Marine MARS-acting as Net Control): 1537 USB w/weekly SHARES check ins. Noted were: WGY948 (South Dakota State EOC, Bismark SD); AAR1BG (Army MARS); NCS009; NCS202.

09496.0 WPTNNJ2560ELA (NS/EP station, West Patterson NJ): 1556 USB/ALE sounding.

14654.5 J1 (unid-poss partial call): 1900 USB/ALE sounding.

14654.5 NORTHSTAR2 (unid): 1915 USB/ALE sounding.

08503.9 NMG (USCG New Orleans): 2053 FAX w/wave height chart.

09185.0 4 Romeo (O/M Spanish): 2138 USB calling Romeo Hotel w/no response. Also calling Tango Tangow/no resposne. Prob Mexican Navy.

09187.0 Unid: 2254 USB/ALE. Prob Swiss diplomatic w/LP ALE.

174FW Pilots to Fly Last Mission from Syracuse

Courtesy of JohnFB and from the WSYR-TV website:

The 174th Fighter Wing will conclude its F-16 operations on March 6, when the final two planes depart Hancock Field. (WSYR-TV) Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Pilots from the 174th Fighter Wing fly the last two F-16s in Syracuse away during a ceremony this Saturday. This is the final step in the 174th’s transition to flying unmanned airplanes.

The 174th Fighter Wing will conclude its F-16 operations on March 6, when the final two planes depart Hancock Field. A formal ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday to commemorate that event.

The 174th Fighter Wing is switching to flying unmanned drones via remote controls. Near the end of last year the 174th began to fly the MQ-9 Reapers in Afghanistan through a satellite connection. Although the planes are deployed overseas, the pilots are here at Hancock Field.

Barksdale Airmen practice operational capability

Two B-52H Stratofortresses make their way to the runway during a Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercise here Feb 25. The exercise tested the wing’s operations planning and ability to generate a large number of B-52s to support the global strike mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman La’Shanette V. Garrett)

by Senior Airman Alexandra M. Longfellow, 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Barksdale Airman participated in a Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercise Feb. 22.

The exercise tested the wing's operations planning and ability to generate a large number of B-52 Stratofortresses to support the global strike mission.

"This NORE allows our Airmen deployed to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to continue improving our nuclear operations and technical procedures with our 5th Bomb Wing brethren," said Lt. Col. Paul Griffith, 2d Bomb Wing, director of plans, programs and evaluations.

The 2d Maintenance Group generated the required aircraft during the exercise and the 2d Operations Group prepared and tested the required crew members. The 2d Mission Support Group secured the generated area and arranged travel for maintenance and cargo headed for Minot. All sections were tested by evaluators and graded on how they react to special situations.

The exercise provides an opportunity to evaluate Barksdale's ability to execute mission requirements and hone the necessary skills to perform the mission. It takes an enormous amount of planning and coordination between the 2d and 5th BWs and 8th Air Force to properly execute the complex exercises.

"This exercise was the first robust test of these different contingencies," said Colonel Griffith. "It allowed our leaders and Airmen to learn, experience and devise the best methods for these operations now and in the future."

This exercise had two distinct objectives -- to provide and deploy all tasked support to the NORE at Minot as quickly as possible to meet or exceed mission's timelines and to exercise additional contingencies for operational missions ranging from global strike to expeditionary combat support.

"Every day our Airmen maintain the highest standards of compliance and accountability while we continue to improve our operational capability," said Col. Steven Basham, 2d Bomb Wing commander. "This NORE was an opportunity for the 2d BW to demonstrate its continuous preparedness for conducting nuclear operation in a safe, secure and credible manner."

The 2d BW has two NOREs scheduled for April and May to prepare for the upcoming June NORI.

Milcom Blog Logs - 2 Mar 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3299.0 HF-USB
0108Z - AFF4XE NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S1 net

3317.5 HF-USB
0132Z - NNN0AZM NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Missouri MARS 7H1B net: NNN0BAV-T / NNN0AEV / NNN0ABO / NNN0JRX

3325.0 HF-USB
0131Z - NNN0KBP NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Indiana MARS 5B1B net: NNN0BHZ

3370.5 HF-USB
0208Z - AFA6DV NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M3 net: AFF6RM

3390.0 HF-USB
0209Z - NNN0ICX NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 MARS 4X9B net

4007.0 HF-USB
0008Z - NNN0AVT NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Nebraska / Kansas MARS 7N1B net
0034Z - NNN0XEE NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0APD

4011.0 HF-USB
0006Z - NNN0KUB NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Arkansas MARS 6A1B net: NNN0ATK / NNN0WKH
1418Z - NNN0YGW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Iowa MARS 7D1C net

4013.5 HF-USB
0106Z - NNN0BTG NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Kentucky MARS 4K2B net: NNN0VWV

4020.9 HF-USB
0200Z - AAV6LY NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net // closes net //
1420Z - AAR6QE NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAM6OK w/ change to both new nets: 0900 hr (local) net will be held on KDG USB primary w/ KCO USB as alternate & 1400 hr (local) will be held on KDG USB as primary w/ KEG USB as alternate /AAR6GT / AAR6CG / AAR6LN / AAR6CQ

4023.9 HF-USB
0003Z - AAA5OH NCS for the Army Region 5 Ohio MARS AAA5RD/OH net

4032.9 HF-USB
0201Z - AAA3DE NCS for the Army Region 3 MARS AAA3RD/G net: AAR3DY / AAT1TO

4035.9 HF-USB
0102Z - AAM7IA NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/IA net: AAT7CN / AAR7AT

4038.5 HF-USB
0207Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H2B net: NNN0AOC
0301Z - NNNOSYH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net: NNN0EVT / NNN0QAA / NNN0SWS-T / NNN0SFO

4041.0 HF-USB
0032Z - NNN0ANN NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Ohio MARS 5N5B net: NNN0LWN / NNN0TTZ / NNN0OON

4469.0 HF-USB
0056Z - Georgia-CAP-34 w/ Georgia-CAP-41
0058Z - Goldenrod-609 w/ Georgia-CAP-41
0100Z - Goldenrod-595 NCS for the Southeast Region Alabama "Goldenrod" CAP net: Goldenrod-609 / Georgia-CAP-41

4470.5 HF-USB
0300Z - NNN0FCI NCS for the Navy/MC Region 8 North / South Dakota MARS 8S1B net: NNN0GLL

4506.0 HF-USB
0001Z - MO-CAP-10 NCS for the North Central Region Missouri "MO-CAP" CAP net

4517.0 HF-USB
1410Z - AFE7DM NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM3 net: AFN7NC / AFA5RF

4604.0 HF-USB
0001Z - Red-Fire-114 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Indiana "Red_Fire" CAP net
0030Z - Red-Fox-93 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Illinois "Red_Fox" CAP net
0200Z - Red-Robin-170 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Michigan "Red-Robin" CAP net

4623.5 HF-USB
0031Z - NNN0AQP NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I2B net: NNN0SCV

4721.0 HF-USB
[02:51:38][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][OFF ][AL0] BER 16 SN 05
OFF - Offutt HF-GCS, NE
[07:42:46][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 13 SN 06
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD
[10:43:14][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 12 SN 06
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD
[12:13:22][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 17 SN 06
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD

4724.0 HF-USB
0240Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44Y6AF to All Stations
0300Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44Y6AF

6739.0 HF-USB
0330Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44Y6AF
0400Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44Y6AF
0413Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: VI6; time: 13; authentication: JF
0413Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: FC5; time: 13; authentication: JF
0415Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: VI6; time: 15; authentication: JF
0430Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44Y6AF

7302.0 HF-USB
1407Z - AFN6VN NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M1 net: AFA6CN / AFA6EL / AFA6FN / AFA6LB / AFA6IE

7457.0 HF-USB
1405Z - AFA4IH NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFA4AL / AFA4EV / AFA4AJ / AFA4ZV / AFA4HR / AFA4FH-T / AFN4RD

8912.0 HF-USB
0115Z - Camslant w/ CG 1501 for flight opns

8992.0 HF-USB
1505Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44QYEM to All Stations
1519Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44EN2T to All Stations

10194.0 HF-USB
[17:07:27][CHN 01][TO ][460FEMAUX ][TIS][FC0FEM ][AL0] BER 20 SN 05
Voice comms: WGY910 w/ ______: will be available 0730 - 0800 tomorrow to take calls. Go to Facebook & check out Be Prepared Seattle
460FEMAUX - U.S. FEMA, Baton Rouge, LA
FC0FEM - WGY910 - FEMA, Region 10, Bothell, WA
[17:17:53][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC4 ][AL0] BER 17 SN 05
FC4 - FEMA, Region 4
[17:50:48][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8 ][AL0] BER 14 SN 06
FC8 - FEMA, Region 8
[17:58:31][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6FEM ][AL0] BER 16 SN 05
FC6FEM - FEMA, Region 6
[19:02:39][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6FEM ][AL0] BER 18 SN 05
FC6FEM - FEMA, Region 6
[19:27:07][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8FEM ][AL0] BER 16 SN 05
FC8FEM - FEMA, Region 8
[19:50:38][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8 ][AL0] BER 12 SN 04
FC8 - FEMA, Region 8
[20:02:49][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6FEM ][AL0] BER 19 SN 05
FC6FEM - FEMA, Region 6
[20:17:45][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC4 ][AL0] BER 17 SN 05
FC4 - FEMA, Region 4
[20:17:50][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC4FEM ][AL0] BER 17 SN 05
FC4FEM - FEMA, Region 4
[20:36:22][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FQ0FEM ][AL0] BER 13 SN 05
FQ0FEM - FEMA, Region 10
[21:02:58][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC6FEM ][AL0] BER 13 SN 05
FC6FEM - FEMA, Region 6
[22:36:43][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FR4FEM ][AL0] BER 18 SN 05
FR4FEM - FEMA, Region 4

11232.0 HF-USB
1502Z - Trenton Military provide Tiger-324 w/ pp to RCC: RCC to 324, you are now tasked to Electronic ______; 43??N 07955W track spacing 10 NM

13200.0 HF-USB
1505Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 22 character EAM 44QYEM to All Stations

15016.0 HF-USB
0001Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMS: 44L7U4; 44ABQB & 44YMKW
0009Z - Offutt (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: 26L; time: 09; authentication: JT
0014Z - (sound like) Juniper (something like that) calz Mainsail for comms test count
0030Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMS: 44L7U4; 44ABQB & 44YMKW
1530Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 22 character EAM 44EN2T
1702Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44DZQR to All Stations
1705Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44Y42A to All Stations

Air Force officials work on trimmed-down instrument landing system

A modified CL-60 Challenger aircraft flies a low-level approach past an instrument landing system being used in 2007 in Southwest Asia. The 853rd Electronic Systems Group staff will soon be releasing a request for proposals for a deployable instrument landing system, which will be leaner and more transportable. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Gonzalez)

by Patty Welsh, 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) -- Officials from the 853rd Electronic Systems Group here are working to improve the transportability and deployability of instrument landing systems with an upcoming request for proposal for a deployable instrument landing system, or D-ILS.

An instrument landing system is a precision-approach system that consists of hardware, including antennas and electronics, and a software application.

"Having a mobile ILS system in the Air Force inventory will provide warfighters in theater with three major capabilities: the ability to convert a bare base into an operating airfield, the ability to augment an existing airfield or the ability to temporarily restore ILS capabilities at damaged airfields during humanitarian operations," said Col. Jimmie Schuman, the 853rd ELSG commander.

The D-ILS will provide a system of equal performance to existing Category I fixed-based systems that provide aircraft guidance on final approach in low visibility/low ceiling weather conditions.

From a transportability perspective, a fixed-base ILS is very large and takes multiple aircraft to deliver all the equipment. The D-ILS will fit onto a single C-130 Hercules, which will provide the Air Force with a great deal of flexibility.

"The current fixed-based ILS systems are time-tested solutions that everyone in the aviation community has confidence in, since all major airports have been using this technology for more than 50 years," said Matthew MacGregor, the program manager for deployable air traffic control and landing systems. "However, fixed-base ILS systems are fairly large structures that require installation of concrete and utilize large containers of electronics and cabling. We are working to scale that system down and make it as lean as possible so a small number of folks can install, configure and maintain the system in a deployed environment."

Remote monitoring and maintenance is another capability the D-ILS will offer. The maintenance concept for D-ILS is very lean, as it allows for the majority of maintenance configuration activities to be conducted from a remote location.

The logistics concept for D-ILS consists of standing up a remote maintenance center in theater that serves as a central depot storage point for all maintenance items needed to sustain the system at multiple airfields. A maintainer is expected to deploy from the remote maintenance center when a system requires maintenance versus having dedicated maintainers at each site.

This concept significantly reduces the maintenance footprint of the system and avoids the need for a large number of system experts in the field.

Members from the 853rd ELSG said they are confident they will receive proposals that include these abilities.

"We have done a lot of market research and have seen the potential solutions industry may propose," said Laura Horstmann, the D-ILS lead engineer. "We feel that industry is prepared from a technology and technical maturity perspective, since they are primarily utilizing commercial technology and understand the integration risk associated with tailoring this system to meet our users' needs."

The final RFP is anticipated to be out in May with source selection in June, and an award by December. Initial operational capability is scheduled to occur in early 2013.

Milcom Blog Logs - 1 Mar 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3308.0 HF-USB
0103Z - AFN7NC NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCADS1 net: AFF7KS / AFF7MO / AFA5FO / AFA5IL / AFA7HZ / AFA5IX / AFA5TC / AFE7DM / AFA7DT
0215Z - AFA5FM NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM1 net: AFF5IL
1200Z - AFA5ML NCS for the Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM2 net: AFA5PL / AFA7KJ

3325.0 HF-USB
0130Z - NNN0GAQ NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Indiana MARS 5B2Z net: NNN0GAQ-3 / NNN0GAQ-4

3370.5 HF-USB
0202Z - AFF6EC NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M3 net: AFA6MM / AFA6PT

3390.0 HF-USB
0204Z - NNN0BIF NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 MARS 4X9B net: NNN0RBD
0303Z - NNN0GAA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net

3920.0 HF-LSB
0001Z - Kansas Weather net conduct roll-call

3963.0 HF-LSB
0001Z - Missouri Emergency Services Net (MESN) conduct roll-call

3982.0 HF-LSB
0030Z - WD0BFO NCS for the Nebraska Storm Net

4002.9 HF-LSB
0105Z - AAM4TN NCS for the Army Region 4 Tennessee MARS AAA4TN/A net: AAM4ETN / AAM4ATN / AAR4CX / AAR4HA / AAV4TY / AAR4IH / AAR4LB / AAV4WB / AAA9AC / AAT4BH / AAR4CY / AAV4QT

4007.0 HF-USB
0002Z - NNN0AVT NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Nebraska / Kansas MARS 7N1B net: NNN0APJ / NNN0YMP
0030Z - NNN0XYA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0BQH / NNN0AQK / NNN0AAT / NNN0APD
0205Z - NNN0GLK (6S1B net) blocking Navy/MC Region 9 MARS 9N1B net

4008.5 HF-USB
0100Z - NNN0AZO NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Oklahoma MARS 6O1B net: NNN0AJJ / NNN0QNN
0200Z - NNN0GLK NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 South Texas MARS 6S1B net: NNN0FWM

4011.0 HF-USB
0003Z - NNN0AHH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Arkansas MARS 6A1B net: NNN0KUR
1403Z - NNN0YGW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Iowa MARS 7D1C net: NNN0AEV / NNN0TUL

4013.5 HF-USB
0100Z - NNN0BDW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Kentucky MARS 4K2B net: NNN0OGD / NNN0BTJ / NNN0BTG / NNN0LSO / NNN0YTR

4020.9 HF-USB
0033Z - AAR6GD NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAR6TV
0133Z - AAA6TX NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A Texas Admin net: AAR6QE / AAR6CE / AAR6CG / AAR6OA / AAR6UX / AAR6BB / AAR6LN / AAR6QO / AAR6PC / AAV6LY / AAV6ZC / AAR6CH / AAV6ZB / AAR6WK / AAR6TX / AAR6KR / AAR6GE / AAR6CL / AAR6BM // mention made of Mon - Thur Texas net @ 1300 hrs local on KCO currently active - proposed Mon - Fri net @ 0900 hrs local for OK stations on this freq & an @ 1400 hrs local on KCO //
1457Z - AAM6ETX NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net
1503Z - AAM6OK NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAR6DT / AAR6TX // NCS announces this is a Mon - Fri net - another new net will be active @ 1400 hrs local on KCO w/ AAR6DT as NCS

4023.9 HF-USB
1407Z - Army Region 5 MARS AAA5RD/IL net: AAM5IL

4026.9 HF-USB
0007Z - AAM4ANC NCS for the Army Region 4 North Carolina MARS AAA4NC/A net: AAV4TY / AAV4VN (Alt NCS) / AAT4BH / AAM4SC / AAT4VG / AAM4ENC / AAV4FX / AAV4WB / AAV4WC / AAT4HM / AAR4TX / AAA4NC / AAV4YY / AAT4BC / AAV4WZ
1210Z - AAM4KY NCS for the Army Region 4 MARS AAA4RD/B net: AAV4WR / AAR4VB-T / AAR5QM / AAR4DX

4032.9 HF-LSB
1202Z - AAR3DH NCS for the Army Region 3 MARS AAA3RD/A net: AAM3EMD / AAT3QO / AAT3PD / AAT3OY / AAA3VA / AAM3RT / AAT3EO / AAR3BQ / AAR3FK / AAM3MVA / AAR3AN / AAA3PA / AAM3TPA / AAM3PA

4035.9 HF-USB
0207Z - AAR7RW NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/B net: AAA7RD / NNN0AJJ / AAR7PF / AAA7NE
1339Z - AAR7QB NCS closes down the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/C net
1401Z - AAM7IA NCS for the Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/D net: AAM7ANE / AAM7EMO

4038.5 HF-USB
0207Z - NNN0PCC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H2B net: NNN0TBK / NNN0HEL / NNN0AOC
0302Z - NNN0GAA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net: QSY NBJ
1413Z - Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H1B net: NNN0RBD

4470.5 HF-USB
0300Z - NNN0XFB NCS for the Navy/MC Region 8 North / South Dakota MARS 8S1B net

4506.0 HF-USB
1400Z - Red-Cloud-144 NCS for the North Central Region Nebraska "Red-Cloud" CAP net
2331Z - North-Central-54 NCS for the North Central Regional CAP net

4517.0 HF-USB
1418Z - Air Force North Central Area MARS NCM3 net: AFA7AT / AFE7DM / AFN7NC / AFA5PI / AFA5DK

4601.0 HF-USB
1430Z - Rocky Mountain Region Colorado Wing HF net: Blue-Mesa-11 / Blue-Mesa-236 // net closed 1432Z

4604.0 HF-USB
1431Z - Great Lakes "Blue Lake" Region CAP net conduct roll-call
2230Z - Red-Fox-93 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Illinois "Red-Fox" CAP net
2300Z - Kentucky-CAP-148 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Kentucky CAP net
2330Z - Columbus-04 NCS for the Great Lakes Region Ohio "Columbus" CAP net

4623.5 HF-USB
1400Z - Navy/MC Region 5 Wisconsin MARS 5W4B net: NNN0HKF
1507Z - NNN0EQH NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Illinois MARS 5I3B net: NNN0HAC / NNN0REN

4721.0 HF-USB
[03:09:02][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 14 SN 05
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD

4724.0 HF-USB
0300Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44EBIO

4825.0 HF-USB
2310Z - NNN0OYS NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X4B net: NNN0ACC / NNN0GLK

4865.0 HF-USB
0155Z - Link-11 data transmission

4918.5 HF-USB
1905Z - Army Region 6 MARS net: AAR6TW / AAR6RD - mentions was on KDG earlier / AAR6TV

5004.5 HF-USB
1501Z - NNN0SLA NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X2B net: NNN0AHH / NNN0WKH / NNN0AAK

6925.0 HF-AM
0020Z - Captain Morgan Pirate radio station

7457.0 HF-USB
1415Z - AFA4HD NCS for the Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFA4AJ / AFA4GE / AFA4VG / AFF4AL / AFA4EV / AFA4NG

7887.0 HF-AM
2018Z - YL in 5F Spanish numbers msg tfc

8912.0 HF-USB
[23:21:21][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][I52 ][AL0] BER 17 SN 06
I52 - CBP CESSNA 550 #N752CC

8983.0 HF-USB
1547Z - Camslant w/ CG 2105
1548Z - Camslant w/ CG 2006

9047.0 HF-USB
[18:35:11][CHN 01][SND][ ][TIS][100 ][AL0] BER 12 SN 04
100 - Unknown

10194.0 HF-USB
1705Z - Link-11 data transmission
[20:23:14][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][FC8FEM ][AL0] BER 14 SN 04
FC8FEM - FEMA, Region 8

11494.0 HF-USB
[21:52:56][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][D70 ][AL0] BER 12 SN 06
D70 - CBP P-3A "Slick" #N16370/BuNo 152170, Corpus Christi AMB, TX

13473.5 HF-USB
[22:03:29][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][WWL ][AL0] BER 14 SN 06
WWL - NNN0WWL

13993.0 HF-USB
1917Z - TRANSCON HF Voice Net: AFA8CI

15016.0 HF-USB
1734Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 21 character EAM HP5MR4 to All Stations
1800Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 21 character EAM HP5MR4
1829Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: 5IU; time: 29; authentication: M?
1830Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 21 character EAM HP5MR4
1833Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44EA7J to All Stations
2030Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44EA7J
2230Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass two 28 character EAMs: 44YMKW & 44O7QA
2249Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44ABQB to All Stations
2252Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44L7U4 to All Stations
2300Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMS: 44L7U4; 44ABQB & 44YMKW
2330Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMS: 44L7U4; 44ABQB & 44YMKW

Lincoln Ready for INSURV

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At sea (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) left its homeport of Everett, Wash., Feb. 23 in preparation for a material assessment conducted by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Lincoln began the multiple-day evaluation in San Diego, Feb. 28.

INSURV is a major inspection mandated by Congress to assess a ship's material condition, its ability to operate its weapons, radar, engineering and navigation systems, maintain its berthing spaces, and function safely. More than 150 inspectors will examine how well the crew performs preventative maintenance and appraise the ship's overall space cleanliness and preservation.

INSURV was established in 1868 and reports to Congress and American taxpayers that the ships of the U.S. Navy are well-maintained and capable of fighting wars and performing their duties while deployed.

"It's independent and unbiased. It's conducted to inspect the material condition of all Navy ships," said Lt. j.g. Zach Decker, the operations information division officer who has been part of the INSURV team since checking on board.

INSURV grading criteria is either "fit for sustained combat operations" or "not fit for sustained combat operations." Once the inspection is complete, INSURV will report directly to the Secretary of the Navy and Congress if the ship is fit in terms of being able to conduct operations.

In order to prepare for the inspection Master Chief Machinist's Mate Michael Gwinn, Maintenance, Material Management (3M) chief, said the first step was to form a team of personnel from around the ship that were knowledgeable on the ship's material condition. This team's sole purpose was to focus on INSURV until the inspection.

That team was known as The Elite Zone Inspection Team, made up of the most talented and experienced senior chiefs, master chiefs, chief warrant officers and limited duty officers using the same concept as the Elite Spot Check Training Team, which upholds maintenance standards on the ship. The goal was to train the crew in its ability to critically self-assess, explained Gwinn.

Lincoln has been preparing for INSURV for more than a year, seeking out best practices from around the fleet.

"We also visited the Truman during their INSURV," said Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Pierce, assistant INSURV coordinator. "Observing their inspection helped us learn what the inspectors' standards were, and what they were looking for."

Schedule of Events (SOE) practices helped the ship refine the INSURV timeline, and were critical for completing hundreds of system checks and two sea and anchor details in 28 hours of underway time, while also providing practice for the demonstration teams.

The ship opened a "store" full of maintenance and material items that are routinely replaced, and established a plan of action for each individual inspection, said Cmdr. Cedric Wilcox, the ship's combat direction center officer, and the INSURV coordinator.

"We have a pre-expended bin for high usage consumables. We also established a watch-bill triad which consists of the demonstrator, the khaki supervisor and the repair folks, all of which will be standing by during the inspections," said Wilcox. "We've also concentrated on overall ship cleanliness, especially in the bathrooms, berthings and outlying areas that typically get overlooked."

The team also ran through frequent INSURV evolutions, which Gwinn explained were basically a rehearsal. By practicing in real-time, the team was able to spot discrepancies in certain procedures early and correct them.

"When a Sailor is given the tool of knowledge, they are essentially equipped to execute the play," said Gwinn. "Once Sailors are educated on the proper procedures, I feel 99 percent of them will either meet or exceed that expectation."

Upon completion of INSURV the Lincoln continues its training cycle to prepare for a 2010 deployment in support of the nation's maritime strategy.

MSRON 10 Sailors Prepare to Deploy

By Lt. Cmdr. Randy Hokaj, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 10 will conduct pre-deployment training in Cape Canaveral March 2-7.

The training is designed to prepare MSRON 10 Sailors for their upcoming mission in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

During the field training exercise, MSRON 10 will establish a base camp and operation centers on the Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) property at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Security personnel will exercise controlling access to their campsite and respond to security threats in a training environment. This training evolution will involve the use of blank ammunition by security teams. "The use of blanks enhances the value of our training because it increases realism and stresses a Sailor's critical decision-making by requiring them to draw and discharge their weapon," explained Lt. Cmdr. Zac Staples, MSRON 10 chief staff officer.

During the March training exercise, only shore security and command and control personnel will be present in Cape Canaveral while the squadron's security boats will be operating simultaneously out of Navy Weapons Station Charleston, S.C. Future training at Cape Canaveral will also involve the squadron's security boats.

MSRON 10 is a Reserve Squadron with units in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami and Orlando, Fla., Gulfport, Miss., and Charleston, S.C. They are part of Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 2, headquartered in Portsmouth, Va.

The squadron is one of the Navy's premier anti-terrorism/force protection units and is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, a force of 40,000 expeditionary Sailors. The role of Expeditionary Security is to provide force protection and security for designated assets such as ships, aircraft or facilities in places where there is no permanent Navy infrastructure or where the security capabilities are insufficient or unknown.

Logistical support to Antarctic science efforts wraps up

by Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson, 13th Air Force Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) -- American servicemembers concluded the 2009-2010 Operation Deep Freeze season Feb. 24 after six months of logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program and National Science Foundation.

The season began with a winter flying period that started Aug. 16, delivering advance teams and cargo to New Zealand and Antarctica in preparation for the main season start in September.

Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air Forces commander here, commended the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica team.

"I couldn't be more proud of our Air Force's total force effort that supports the National Science Foundation mission in the Antarctic," General North said. "I was fortunate enough to see these operations firsthand this season and the dedication of the men and women of our Air Force who have been executing the airlift into and throughout the Antarctic since 1975. The Airmen of the 62nd, 446th and 109th airlift wings are true professionals, and I left the 'ice' truly impressed by their dedication to this important mission.

"(Visiting Antarctica) also allowed me to see firsthand the command and control efforts of the 13th Air Force as the commander, Lt. Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, and his staff serve as the Joint Forces commander and command element for the Operation Deep Freeze mission," the general said.

The JTF SFA team is composed of active, Guard and Reserve servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard. The team supported the NSF and USAP by providing C-17 Globemaster III strategic inter-theater airlift, LC-130 Hercules airlift and air-drop support, aeromedical evacuation support, emergency response, sealift, seaport access, bulk-fuel supply, port-cargo handling, and transportation requirements.

"This was my first year leading the joint task force, and everything I had heard about the dedication of our joint team proved to be completely accurate," said General Carlisle who serves as both the 13th Air Force and JTF SFA commander. "We're talking about an operating environment that is quite possibly the most challenging in the world, yet our folks get the mission done safely and effectively for our partners in the NSF and USAP."

To provide this logistical support, JTF SFA members employed C-17s from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., LC-130s from Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y., and both a tanker and chartered container ship from the Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

During the 2009-2010 season, LC-130 aircrews from the 109th AW at Stratton ANGB flew 330 on-continent missions, transporting thousands of passengers and 8.1 million pounds of cargo and fuel from the main U.S. base at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to the South Pole and other research outposts on the continent.

Additionally, C-17 aircrews from the 62nd and 446th airlift wings at JB McChord flew 60 missions between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station transporting more than 5,300 passengers and nearly 4.5 million pounds of cargo. They did this while also demonstrating an on-time, on-target South Pole airdrop capability.

The 2009-2010 Operation Deep Freeze season was one of the safest and most productive on record for the joint task force, said Col. Paul Sheppard, the JTF SFA deputy commander here.

"The Defense Department's support of NSF on land, sea, and air was superb, and all major U.S. science objectives, such as the ice core drilling at (Western Antarctic Ice Sheet)-Divide, were accomplished," Colonel Sheppard said.

The 2009-2010 Operation Deep Freeze season experienced milestones, to include operating off a single-location runway at Pegasus Field, Colonel Sheppard said. The joint task force established a sea ice runway for wheeled aircraft and a packed-snow ski way for aircraft with skis at the field, despite the most unusual El Nino-induced weather since 2001.

Additionally, C-17 aircrews further refined their ability to land at McMurdo Station in total darkness using night-vision goggles. This maturing capability opens up new possibilities for an early start in upcoming seasons, said Lt. Col. Ed Vaughan, the interim director of JTF SFA joint operations here.

Season participants also saw Navy ship operations, bolstered by a contracted icebreaker, delivering cargo and fuel in record time, Colonel Vaughan said.

"With primary cargo offloading performed by the Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1, the season was remarkable, with no injuries whatsoever and completion well ahead of schedule," Colonel Vaughan said.

LC-130s provided airlift for the initial opening of the Australian Antarctic Division's Camp Casey, flying the first passengers to this remote Antarctic station for the season. In addition, Air Mobility Command officials provided a pilot from the Air Force Reserve, who flew along as an instructor and expert guide for the first ice landing of a Boeing 757 operated by Antarctica New Zealand members.

"One of the amazing second order effects here is that Deep Freeze permits our military members to work in an established joint, interagency, and international environment," Colonel Vaughan said.

"Participants use what they learn in Antarctica in operations around the globe and "conversely, they can apply the lessons gleaned in other theaters when they later return to Antarctica," he said. "This iterative learning contributes to the ultimate success of this and other missions."

China, Iran Creating 'No-Go' Zones to Thwart U.S. Military Power

Found this interesting article on Politics Daily by David Wood

"As Defense Secretary Robert Gates summed up the problem this month, countries in places where the United States has strategic interests -- including the Persian Gulf and the Pacific -- are building "sophisticated, new technologies to deny our forces access to the global commons of sea, air, space and cyberspace.''

Read more at
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/03/01/china-iran-creating-no-go-zones-to-thwart-u-s-military-power/?icid=mainmaindl1link1http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2010%2F03%2F01%2Fchina-iran-creating-no-go-zones-to-thwart-u-s-military-power%2F

Milcom Blog Logs - 28 Feb 2010 - USASA MidWest Collection Site

Time for another exclusive HF blog log report from the radio ranch at the USASA MidWest Collection Site.

3308.0 HF-USB
0115Z - AFF7KS NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCM4 net
0204Z - AFA7GD NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region MARS NCM1 net: AFF7KS / AFA7DI

3317.5 HF-USB
0130Z - NNN0FBL NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Missouri MARS 7H1B net: NNN0QGR / NNN0AEV / NNN0PQX

3370.5 HF-USB
0200Z - AFA6JY NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M3 net: AFA6GG / AFA6DP / AFF6TX

3390.0 HF-USB
0203Z - NNN0RBC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 MARS 4X9B net: NNN0ICX / NNN0XPU / NNN0JKI / NNN0JOP / NNN0HBO / NNN0RBD

4002.9 HF-LSB
0101Z - AAM4ETN NCS for the Army Region 4 MARS AAA4RD/K net: AAR4CY / AAT4BH / AAA4TN

4007.0 HF-USB
0004Z - NNN0FCT NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 Nebraska / Kansas MARS 7N1B net: NNN0AVT (discussion of making contact w/ Canadian MARS stations) / NNN0YQI
0030Z - NNN0KZC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Minnesota MARS 5G1B net: NNN0BQH / NNN0XYA / NNN0YQI

4008.5 HF-USB
0100Z - NNN0AZO NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Oklahoma MARS 6O1B net: NNN0AJJ / NNN0IVV
0206Z - NNN0FWM NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 South Texas MARS 6S1B net
1500Z - NNN0ENS NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 Oklahoma MARS 6O2B net: NNN0IVV

4011.0 HF-USB
1405Z - Navy/MC Region 7 Iowa MARS 7D2A net: NNN0AS74 / NNN0AS71
2331Z - Navy/ MC Region 2 Northern New York MARS 2J1B net: NNN0JQF

4013.5 HF-USB
0102Z - NNN0LSO NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Kentucky MARS 4K2B net: NNN0BTG / NNN0OGD / NNN0BDW / NNN0ZEU-T

4020.9 HF-USB
0111Z - AAR6OA NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAR6OB
0207Z - AAA6RD NCS for the Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAR6CH / AAM5IMI / AAT6ZQ / AAR6DT
1415Z - Army Region 6 MARS AAA6RD/A net: AAA6TX / AAM6OTX / AAM6OK / AAR6JJ / AAR6QE

4026.9 HF-USB
0001Z - AAV4FX NCS for the Army Region 4 North Carolina MARS AAA4NC/T net: AAV4TY / AAM4NL / AAR4CY / AAA4NC / AAR4TW / AAR4FF / AAR4TX

4035.9 HF-USB
1410Z - Army Region 7 MARS AAA7RD/D net: AAM7EMO / AAR7BD

4038.5 HF-USB
0211Z - NNN0ANX NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Tennessee MARS 4H2B net: NNN0RBD / NNN0HEL / NNN0YGY
0302Z - NNN0TJC NCS for the Navy/MC Region 4 Alabama MARS 4A2B net: NNN0EZC / NNN0SYH / NNN0SWS-T

4041.0 HF-USB
0039Z - NNN0FKW NCS for the Navy/MC Region 5 Ohio MARS 5N5B net: NNN0UAN / NNN0AED / NNN0ABN / NNN0FSW

4470.5 HF-USB
0301Z - NNN0XFB NCS for the Navy/MC Region 8 North / South Dakota MARS 8S1B net

4517.0 HF-USB
1433Z - AFF7MO NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region 7 Missouri MARS 7MOS1 net
1506Z - AFA7JM calz AFF7NE, who is listed as NCS for the Air Force North Central Area Region 7 Nebraska MARS 7NES1 net w/ no joy noted

4721.0 HF-USB
[02:53:39][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADW ][AL0] BER 12 SN 04
ADW - Andrews HF-GCS, MD

4724.0 HF-USB
0233Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44IWUL to All Stations
0300Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44IWUL; 20 character EAM HP5HXP; & 6 character EAM HPLC67
0332Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44IWUL; 20 character EAM HP5HXP; & 6 character EAM HPLC67
0400Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44IWUL; 20 character EAM HP5HXP; & 6 character EAM HPLC67

4825.0 HF-USB
2300Z - NNN0KIP NCS for the Navy/MC Region 6 MARS 6X4B net: NNN0WKH

4865.0 HF-USB
0027Z - Link-11 data transmission

5078.5 HF-USB
1900Z - NNN0FCT NCS for the Navy/MC Region 7 MARS 7X4B net: NNN0AEV

6715.0 HF-USB
[04:13:29][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][JNRSPR ][AL0] BER 15 SN 05
JNRSPR - Puerto Rico HF-GCS Secure Internet Protocol Router Network,
Salinas, PR
[06:12:23][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][ADWSPR ][AL0] BER 20 SN 05
ADWSPR - Andrews HF-GCS Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, MD

6739.0 HF-USB
0030Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass two 28 character EAM 44I7ZE & 44TWYZ
0035Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) starts EAM 44BH4F to All Stations then "disregard this transmission" statement
0038Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: PP4; time: 38; authentication: XY, more to follow: SKYKING, do not answer: ?MZ; time: 38; authentication: XY
0039Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44BH4F to All Stations
0043Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: DTI; time: 43; authentication: AM
0100Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMs: 44BH4F; 44I7ZE; & 44TWYZ

7302.0 HF-USB
1501Z - AFF6EC NCS for the Air Force Region 6 MARS 6M4 net: AFA6BZ / AFA6FX

7457.0 HF-USB
1403Z - Air Force Region 4 MARS 4S2 net: AFA4CV / AFA4WJ / AFA4EJ

8050.0 HF-USB
[15:30:11][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][DKB ][AL0] BER 15 SN 05
DKB - either US JSOC:Fort Bragg, NC or unid Unit, 160th SOAR, Hunter AAF Savannah GA

8968.0 HF-USB
[08:35:11][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][JNRSPR ][AL0] BER 19 SN 05
JNRSPR - Puerto Rico HF-GCS Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, Salinas, PR
[11:39:50][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][JNR ][AL0] BER 16 SN 05
JNR - Puerto Rico HF-GCS, Salinas, PR
[11:40:59][CHN 01][SND][ ][TWS][MCC ][AL0] BER 17 SN 05
MCC - McClellan HF-GCS, CA

8992.0 HF-USB
0130Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44BH4F
0132Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44IVAA to All Stations
0134Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAM 44I7ZE
0200Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass SKYKING, do not answer: EQR; time: 00; authentication: EF
0200Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats three 28 character EAMs: 44BH4F; 44I7ZE; & 44IVAA
0221Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass two 6 character EAMs: HPFTU3 & HPLC67 to All Stations
0226Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 20 character EAM HP5HXP to All Stations
0230Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 20 character EAM HP5HXP followed by two 6 character EAMs: HPFTU3 & HPLC67

14389.0 HF-USB
1603Z - Air Force Phone Patch Admin Net APCN1: AFA4XZ

15016.0 HF-USB
1542Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 44A4EC to All Stations
1546Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 28 character EAM 447V6O to All Stations
1600Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAMs: 447V6O & 44A4EC
1630Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAMs: 447V6O & 44A4EC
1704Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAMs: 447V6O & 44A4EC
1730Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) repeats 28 character EAMs: 447V6O & 44A4EC
1733Z - Andrews (HF-GCS) pass 6 character EAM HP5QRP prefaced "For ____" to All Stations

Soldiers Provide Communications Support in Haiti

Army Pfc. Paul Garland and Pfc. Sean McCall check the setup up of an antenna for voice and data tactical communications in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 28, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Fluegel

By Navy Lt. Arlo Abrahamson, Special to American Forces Press Service

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Soldiers assigned to the communications directorate for the Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command have played a critical role in supporting civil affairs and other humanitarian operations conducted by U.S. special operations forces here during Operation Unified Response.

Special operations forces served as the commander's eyes on the ground during the early days of the rescue and recovery phases of relief operations in the wake of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Jan. 12. These tasks rely heavily on vital links between forward elements and operational commanders, a support capability that Signal Corps soldiers bring to an operation.

"There's a lot of coordination and streamlining that goes into our job, because we have to work across a variety of networks and satellite feeds," said Army Staff Sgt. Kelly Williams, a communications team leader. "We have to ensure the end user, our people in the field, have the signal capabilities they need to accomplish their assigned tasks."

To remain mission capable, Williams said, computer networks must continue to run efficiently, and tactical, radio and satellite communications equipment must be managed and maintained.

"There's a lot of security protocols and other procedures we must follow to run efficient networks," Williams said, "but we try to make that as transparent as possible for our users."

But as Army Staff Sgt. Wayne Potts explained, there's also a hands-on portion of their mission.

"The civil affairs teams bring communications equipment with them to the field, but we show them how to get the most out of this equipment," Potts said. "We want to make sure they have the right capabilities when they get to where they are going so they can concentrate on the overall mission we have here in Haiti."

That mission, humanitarian operations, is one these soldiers know they have enhanced with the skills they bring to the operation.

"We feel good knowing we played a part in the overall success of our mission," said Army Sgt. Derek Auguste. "Communications are vital to any operation – everyone has to talk and coordinate with each other. We feel like we created an environment where that could be successful."

Navy Pic of the Day - USS GW Bush Underway in Atlantic

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Navy's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, keels hard to starboard during high-speed turn drills. George H.W. Bush is underway in the Atlantic Ocean supporting fleet training operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Micah P. Blechner/Released)

USS Houston Arrives in Subic Bay

A tug boat comes alongside the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713) as she arrives in Subic Bay, Philippines. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- USS Houston (SSN 713) arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, Feb. 26 for a scheduled port visit.

While in Subic Bay, Houston will provide a tour of the ship to a number of distinguished guests from the Philippine government.

The Philippine National Police has also challenged the crew of Houston to a friendly game of basketball.

"The Philippine-U.S. relationship is very important to security in the region and visiting Subic Bay gives us the opportunity to strengthen that relationship," said Cmdr. David Schappert, Houston's commanding officer. "My crew and I are looking forward to meeting the people of the Republic of the Philippines and learning about their culture. Our two countries have a long history of working together for peace and stability, and we are humbled to have the opportunity to continue to develop that relationship."

Houston is one of three Los Angeles-class submarines homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam. Houston currently serves under Commander, Submarine Group 7, headquartered at Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan.

Pinckney Arrives in Tokushima

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

TOKUSHIMA, Japan (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) arrived in Tokushima, Japan, Feb. 28 for a scheduled port visit.

Pinckney plans to foster international relationships during this port visit through friendly interactions like sporting competitions and community service projects.

"The strong relationship between our two nations has been the foundation that has led to security, stability and prosperity," said Pinckney Commanding Officer Cmdr. Errin P. Armstrong. "We look forward to building upon the mutual trust, respect, cooperation and our being here today is a continuation of this strong friendship."

Fostering diplomatic relations with allies through friendly community interactions in port is part of America's maritime strategy to build a joint coalition force of allies capable of ensuring maritime security.

USS Tortuga Arrives in Iwo To

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Hinton, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

USS TORTUGA, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) arrived off the coast of Iwo To, Japan, Feb. 28 to support preparations for the 65th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The combined Japanese-U.S. ceremony, which is called a "Reunion of Honor," is slated to take place March 3.

Tortuga was chosen to represent the U.S. Navy at the ceremony and has embarked about 250 Marines and their equipment to provide support.

Upon arrival to Iwo To, Tortuga began transporting personnel and equipment from the ship to the island via Assault Craft Unit 5's landing craft air cushions.

Preparations require multiple vehicles and additional equipment to be brought ashore to support the hundreds of people expected for the event on an island that typically maintains only a small military population.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the most brutal battles of World War II. More than 6,000 Marines and 17,000 Japanese were killed throughout the month and-a-half-long battle.

This ceremony is an opportunity for veterans from both sides to return to the site of the battle and remember those lost.

"To steal a quote, 'We are slowly losing the greatest generation' and Marines will never forget Iwo Jima and the sacrifices they made there," said Cmdr. James P. Lowell. "So every five years we have a commemoration for all those who served and died in the battle."

For many Sailors and Marines the island of Iwo Jima is sacred ground.

"I have talked to a lot of my Marines, and they are very honored and excited about being able to climb Mount Suribachi and see all the memorial sites," said L.t. j.g. Jennifer Sanders, from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force.

Tortuga is forward deployed to Sasebo, where she reports to Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet.

CVW 5 Continues Capability Upgrades with Arrival of New Hawkeye 2000

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brock A. Taylor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Japan

ATSUGI, Japan (NNS) -- Three new E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft arrived at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan to join Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115 Feb. 28.

The improved E-2C Hawkeye 2000 carries advanced capabilities over its predecessor in the areas of detection, processing, identification, communication and navigation.

Their arrival, along with 24 newer F/A-18E Super Hornets in the past two months, is part of several recent upgrades to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 making it the most powerful and capable airwing in the Western Pacific region and the U.S. Navy.

According to Capt. Ross Myers, commanding officer of CVW 5, this upgrade goes beyond increasing just the battle group's efficiency.

"The capability that the Hawkeye 2000 brings to Carrier Air Wing 5 is more than just the squadron," said Myers. "It brings to the entire air wing capabilities that we have never had before and in a greater scope it brings to the joint security cooperation between the United States and the Government of Japan in defense of Japan and Japanese self defense forces a greater capability and lethality for the strike fighters."

Key among the advances is the cooperative engagement capability upgrade which enables the Hawkeye to serve as the fleet's information hub, fusing and distributing information from sources such as satellite and ship-borne radar. This enhanced technology provides better data links to ships conducting ballistic missile defense operations at sea, expanding the reach of U.S. Navy maritime operations in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

VAW 115's maintenance officer and naval flight officer Lt. Cmdr. Bill Selk has worked with the E-2C Hawkeye for over a decade and feels this new upgrade will play a vital role in CVW 5's mission.

"From the outside both airplanes look almost identical, but from the inside it brings a whole new level of capability for us," said Selk. "It has a few new displays and a few new systems that will really enhance our situational awareness and will help us convey that to the battle space."

The Hawkeye 2000's arrival was no surprise to the squadron. According to Cmdr. Chris Martin, VAW 115's commanding officer, the squadron had an ample amount of resources to make the transition a simple one.

"We started about six to eight months ago. We started looking at our training requirements and began planning," Martin said. "Also we have maintenance training teams coming from the U.S. and as well as our fleet replacement squadron to help us transition to the new airplane."

As for the maintainers, the transition shouldn't place too much change in how they handle required maintenance.

"Most of the systems are the same with the exceptions of the electricians and avionics technicians," said Selk. "There will be some new systems for them to learn and I know they are excited to get their hands on them and show us what they can do with them."

Milcom Blog Logs - HF Feb 25-28, 2010 - Mid Atlantic

Our regular MMP reporter Ron P in the Mid Atlantic checks in again with his military/government HF logs from Feb 25-28. All times UTC and Frequencies in kHz.

25 Feb:

15867.0 Z28 (poss CG Sector Los Angeles CA): 1858 USB/ALE calling K73 (USCG MH-65C # 6573 CGAS Los Angeles CA).

26 Feb:

07527.0 ICE (unid): 0115 USB/ALE calling 702 (USCG HC-130H #1702, CGAS Sacramento CA)

07527.0 FTMPRI (COTHEN Remote Communications Transmitter, Sarasota, FL): 0500 USB/ALE sounding.

07527.0 ATLPRI (COTHEN Remote Communications Transmitter, Warm Springs, GA (ATL): 0600 USB/ALE sounding.

11232.0 Halifax Military: 1412 USB w/Canforce 4150 (id as CC-150 # 150003, selcal AS-CM 437th Sqdn CFB Trenton-not heard) who reports departure from Baden (Germany??) and enroute to CFB Trenton w/ETA of 2110Z. Halifax passes wx for Shannon Ireland, St Johns Newfoundland and CFB Trenton.

08340.0 T8R1 (HQs Venezuelan Navy): 2230 LSB/ALE calling 1L0Y (unid).

08340.0 5JL1 (Venezuelan Navy Frigate "Mariscal Sucre" F-21): 2250 LSB/ALE calling T5L1 (CEDEF-Commander, Frigate Squadron).

08340.0 F21 (Venezuelan Navy Frigate "Mariscal Sucre" F-21): 2300 LSB/ALE calling CGA1 (HQs Venezuelan Navy).

05135.0 SEMOHQ (New York State Emergency:Albany NY): 2345 USB/ALE sounding.

05135.0 VA78CTSSCP (unid): 2355 USB/ALE sounding.

27 Feb:

05135.0 MA1NC (EOC, Manchester New Hampshire): 0010 USB/ALE sounding.

05135.0 NA1SH (EOC, Nashua New Hampshire): 0025 USB/ALE sounding.

05135.0 SEMO03 (New York State Emergency:Glen Falls, NY): 0030 USB/ALE sounding.

05135.0 SEMO05 (New York State Emergency:Newark, NY): 0045 USB/ALE sounding.

07665.0 034MERCAP (Civil Air Patrol, Mid Eastern Region): 1425 USB/ALE sounding.

07665.0 043MERCAP (Civil Air Patrol, Mid Eastern Region): 1555 USB/ALE sounding.

07665.0 0204SCCAP (Civil, Air Patrol, South Carolina): 1559 USB/ALE sounding.

28 Feb:

14654.5 NORTHSTAR2 (unid): 1800 USB/ALE sounding.

14654.5 PR013 (unid): 1900 USB/ALE sounding.