US Army HF Skywatch Net

Editor's Note: This will be a net to watch for earthquake relief support in Haiti.

Here is the latest US Army Skywatch Net information from Mark Cleary.
Last Update: 7-9-2008

US Army South Flight Following Service (SKYWATCH) Net, Soto Cano AB, Honduras

Joint Task Force-Bravo is located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. JTF-Bravo is comprised of approximately 550 US military personnel and more than 650 US and Honduran civilians. They work in six different areas including the Joint Staff, Air Force Forces (612th Air Base Squadron), Army Forces, Joint Security Forces and the Medical Element. 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, a US Army South asset, is a tenant unit also based at Soto Cano.

The Air Force Forces has among its functions; weather forecasting, fire protection, and maintaining a 24-hour C-5-capable runway. The Army Forces operate finance, food service and transportation. Joint Security Forces is comprised of Air Force, Army and Marine force protection personnel who patrol the base and downtown areas frequented by US servicemembers.

Since 1999, the 1-228th "Winged Warriors" have assumed the complete role of a Theater Aviation Battalion. The total force structure consists of a Headquarters & Headquarters Company (Phantoms); Alpha Company (Talons) with 10x UH-60A aircraft; Bravo Company (Sugarbears) with 4x CH-47D aircraft; and the U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment (Witchdoctors) with 4x UH-60A aircraft. The Battalion's Command & Control Detachment (Nomads) supports U.S. Army South with 2x UH-60A (C2) aircraft.

The 1-228th Aviation Regiment Conducts Aviation Operations Throughout USSOUTHCOM's Area of Responsibility with UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The purpose of the battalion is to promote and execute aviation operations to facilitate the CINC SOUTH's strategy of engagement and security in the theater. The battalion is capable of deploying and sustaining operations throughout the theater. Typical missions conducted by the battalion include: counter drug operations, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, air movement of people equipment and supplies, Aero-medical evacuation, and limited search and rescue. The command structure of the battalion is capable of exercising command and control for Commander, USARSO of army aviation assets deployed to the theater. In addition to these operational missions, the battalion participates in selected special events and VIP support missions.

Skywatch, the Army’s Airspace Infomation Center, monitors flights and provides timely communication to aircrews.

Their mission is to provide U.S Army South and U.S. Southern Command with direct flight support on all DoD and other government aircraft positioning 24 hours a day.
Skywatch maintains data for all aircraft operating within the visual flight rules of the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility. They also assist in the coordination and tracking of all medical evacuations in Central America. These monitoring procedures are done through aircraft flight checks every 15 minutes while flights are in operation over the AOR and are maintained until aircraft reach their final destinations. Skywatch is manned with eight military members and eight civilians.

*Update: Two 1-228th UH-60As departed Soto Cano on 28 Jan. 05 to be turned over to the National Guard.

*Update: Three UH-60s were picked up at Soto Cano on 22 March 05 by a Russian An-124 Condor.

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- Airmen teach Honduran soldiers rapelling techniques from a 70-foot tower here recently. The soldiers are part of Joint Task Force Bravo, a 500-person Air Force and Army task force deployed to Honduras. (USAF Photo)

Frequencies
Voice: 5310.0, 8120.0 Tertiary, 11410.0 Primary, 15025.0, 15790.0 Secondary kHz

ALE: 2630, 4060, 5787.5, 6502.5, 6761, 6780, 7350, 7531.5, 7720, 8065, 8527.5, 8972, 9121.5, 9865, 10692.5, 11628.5, 12022, 14761.5, 15492, 16144.5, 19103.5, 19208 kHz

Unconfirmed: 3290.5, 4775.5, 5304.0, 5818.5, 9191.5, 10630.0, 10740.0, 12061.5 kHz

Idents
171OPS USA 1-171st AVN Ops, Dobbins JARB, GA (UH-60Ls, CH-47Ds) w/SKYWAT, R26601, R26606 2-9-06, 4-19-06
228FWD USA Deployed element, 1/228th Avn Bn 3-13-04, 3-16-04
228RER USA Deployed element, 1/228th Avn Bn
HONDO1 Unknown (Probable USA) w/SKYWAT 1-24-05, 2-11-05
HONDO2 Unknown (Probable USA) 2-8-05
HONDO3 Unknown (Probable USA) w/SKYWAT 3-1-05
NARCO Unknown w/RUH955, RUH960, SKYWAT, WAROPS 4-5-05, 10-26-06
OPS171 USA 1-171st AVN Ops, Dobbins JARB, GA (UH-60Ls, CH-47Ds) w/SKYWAT 2-7-06
R22988 USA UH-60A # 78-22988 w/SKYWAT 3-16-06
R26606 USA UH-60L # 95-26606 w/SKYWAT, 171OPS 3-10-06
R26881 USA UH-60L # 01-26681 w/SKYWAT 3-15-06, 3-22-06
RCH132 USA CH-47D 1-228th Avn Bn w/WAROPS 11-7-06
RCH134 USA CH-47D 1-228th Avn Bn
RCH136 USA CH-47D 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 3-13-04, 2-3-05
RCH638 USA CH-47D 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 10-7-05, 2-21-07
RUH006 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/RUH962, WAROPS 3-9-05, 3-27-07
RUH955 USA UH-60L # 02-26955 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, NARCO, WAROPS 1-19-05, 8-2-06
RUH956 USA UH-60L # 02-26956 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 3-28-05, 3-16-06
RUH957 USA UH-60L # 02-26957 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, WAROPS 1-12-05, 2-21-07
RUH958 USA UH-60L # 02-26958 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 3-13-04, 4-12-06
RUH959 USA UH-60L # 02-26959 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, WAROPS 3-13-04, 5-18-07
RUH960 USA UH-60L # 02-26960 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, WAR, NARCO 1-26-05, 11-29-05
RUH962 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, RUH006 3-13-04, 11-9-05
RUH963 USA UH-60L # 02-26963 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, WAROPS 1-12-05, 10-12-05
RUH976 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 2-8-05, 8-9-05
RUH978 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn 8-18-05
RUH980 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT, RUH984 1-13-05, 4-13-05
RUH981 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/NARCO, SKYWAT, WAROPS 3-15-04, 8-16-07
RUH984 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/WAROPS, SKYWAT, RUH980 11-16-04, 4-12-06
RUH985 USA UH-60L # 03-26985 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 1-4-05, 9-5-06
RUH993 USA UH-60 1-228th Avn Bn w/SKYWAT 1-12-05
SKYWAT USA US Army South Flight Following Facility, Soto Cano AB, Honduras w/WAROPS, NARCO, 171OPS, OPS171
WAROPS USA Winged Warriors Operations, 1-228th Avn Bn, Soto Cano AB, Honduras w/NARCO, RCH132, RUH957, RUH959 3-13-04, 8-16-07

Milcom Blog Logs - HF Apr 1-4, 2010 - Mid Atlantic

Our regular MMP reporter Ron P in the Mid Atlantic checks in again with his latest installment of military and government HF logs. All times UTC and Frequencies in kHz.

1 Apr:
07802.0 IL5 (Illinois Emergency Management Agency Springfield, IL): 1315 USB/ALE D09IDOT (IL District 9 Dept Of Transportation, Carbondale IL).

2 Apr:
07350.0 SKYWAT (SkyWatch, US Army South Flight Following Center, Soto Cano AB, Honduras): 0100 USB/ALE sounding.

04235.0 NMF (USCG District 1 Boston MA): 0335 FAX.

04317.9 NMG (USCG New Orleans): 0343 FAX.

04330.0 4XZ (Israeli Navy, Haifa): 0345 CW "VVV DE 4XZ".

04426.0 NMN (CamsLant Chesapeke): 0349 USB w/automated maritime wx.

04316.0 NMG (USCG New Orleans): 0352 USB w/maritime wx.

06519.0 WLO: 0400 USB w/announcements.

07802.0 TLWY1 (Illinois Tollway Agency, Downer's Grove IL): 1400 USB/ALE calling D01IDOT (Illinois District 1 DOT, Schaumburg IL).

04604.0 Red Fox 17 (Illinois Civil Air Patrol Wing): 2332 USB w/unid station in radio checks.

03 Apr:
05388.5 AL1 (FBI, Atlanta GA): 0300 USB/ALE calling QT1 (FBI, Quantico VA).

4 Apr:
08171.5 S2L, A3L & F2H (prob US Army): 1410 USB/ALE sounding.

New Cleary HF Counter Narco Net List Posted

I have added the latest Mark Cleary U.S. Counter-Drug/Law Enforcement/Homeland Security HF ALE List to my Btown Monitor Post blogspot. If you are interested in the ALE addresses and frequency information for the COTHEN Net, TISCOM Net, FBI ALE Net, US Army/DEA PANTHER Net, and US Army South Flight Following Service (SKYWATCH) Net, jump over to my other blog and take a peak.

Milcom Blog Logs - Sep-Oct, 2009 - Kentucky

Our good friend and MMP monitor Jack Metcalfe passes along the following logs from his Stanford, Kentucky QTH. Thanks Jack.

4775.5 INDOPS, Indiana National Guard: 1928 USB ALE with IN NG Helo R23704. Also heard on 2816.0 & 2540.0 later that evening. (07/OCT/2009)

4777.0 HAM, Virginia National Guard at Hampton: 0109 USB ALE (11/OCT/2009)

5195.0 Texas DOT stations in Monday Net. Some confusion over Columbus Day & who was operating, but heard El Paso, San Antonio & Wichita Falls among others: 1334 USB Voice (12/OCT/2009)

5217.0 AAM4FL, US Army MARS with SHARES Example Message Format: 1327 USB OLIVIA 16 tones 1 kHz bandwidth (12/OCT/2009)

5236.5 TO1185, US Army or National Guard here and on 4611.5, 4886.5 and 6985.0: 2134 USB ALE (07/OCT/2009)

5351.5 966 & OPS832, US Army or National Guard stations: 1512 USB ALE & Voice (13/OCT/2009)

5790.0 Unid US based stations with weather conditions. Possible MARS or SHARES stations: 1419 CW (13/OCT/2009)

6780.6 OPMHQ1, unid station on a NTCN (National Telecommunications Coordinating Network) frequency: 1757 USB ALE (07/OCT/2009)

7510.0 SELF, TEST1 & TEST2, US Army Continuity of Operations stations: 1858 - 1923 USB ALE, Voice, AMD Text & 75 baud encrypted data (13/OCT/2009)

7540.0 AFA4DB, USAF MARS station: 1425 MFSK16 (12/OCT/2009)

7535.0 US Navy vessel FREEDOM CROSSROADS calling NORFOLK SESEF: 1900 USB Voice (02/OCT/2009)

7633.5 AFA9PF USAF MARS Net: 1919 USB Voice (23/SEPT/2009)

7901.5 Unid station with 5 letter groups: 1916 CW (23/SEPT/2009)

9007.0 TRENTON MILITARY with weather for unid aircraft: 1736 USB Voice (12/OCT/2009)

9120.0 PIPE STEM & WOOD CHOP or WOOD SHOP in the clear & secure: 1817 USB Voice (13/OCT/2009)

9260.0 Unid station with 5 letter groups? Very weak signal: 1814 CW (12/OCT/2009)

10588.0 WGY916, FEMA MERS Unit, Denton, TX & WGY 908, FEMA, Denver, CO: 1650 USB Voice & 75 baud data from memory & keyboard to keyboard (13/OCT/2009)

10670.5 L28 & JCP3, US Army or NG stations: 1945 USB ALE. Same stations on 5851.5 USB ALE a few minutes later. (07/OCT/2009)

11205.0 SMASHER calling SKYWATCH: 2012 USB Voice (13/OCT/2009)

11789.5 Unid stations Asian language. Nice frequency range to hide in: 1816 USB Voice (02/OCT/2009)

Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras

Pentagon officials say the situation at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras is calm and the U.S. military is not involved in any activities other than its designated mission.



You can monitor activity on HF from in and around the Soto Cano base. More information is available on this blog at this page http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2007/08/skywatch-net.html

And in a related story

U.S. Base in Honduras on Shut-down Following Uprising

By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - There are no current threats to U.S. servicemembers serving in Honduras following last week's ouster of the Honduran president, U.S. Southern Command officials said today.

The 600 American soldiers, sailors and airmen based at Soto Cano Air Base are staying on the base and not conducting exercises with the Honduran military, said Robert Appin, deputy director for public information and outreach at Southern Command in Miami.

The Honduran military reportedly ousted President Manuel Zelaya on June 28. President Barack Obama has expressed concern over the development and said the Hondurans need to work the problem out.

The last off-base operation was June 26 when U.S. servicemembers concluded a medical readiness exercise, Appin said.

Army Col. Richard A. Juergens, commander of Soto Cano, ordered the air base closed following Zelaya's ouster. "No one is allowed off base except for emergency situations," Appin said. "All travel is restricted."

U.S. forces have served in Honduras since the early 1980s. A mix of active and reserve component servicemembers work with local forces and local institutions. Servicemembers deploy for either six months or a year to Soto Cano, Appin said.

Two Standard HF Milcom References Posted

I have posted the latest edition's of Mark Cleary's USCG Asset Guide and Counter-Drug/Law Enforcement/Homeland Security HF ALE Guide on my Personal Website, The Btown Monitoring Post at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/. The later guide contains ALE address and frequency information for the COTHEN Net, TISCOM Net, FBI ALE Net, US Army/DEA PANTHER Net, and US Army South Flight Following Service (SKYWATCH) Net. If you are into HF listening to the US Coast Guard and Counter-Narco Nets, these guides are must haves in your files.

HF Milcom Frequencies - 3/1/2007

Here are some of the recently reported HF Milcom frequencies sent to this reporter and off some of the various newsgroups.

2461.5 Irish Air Force ARQ
2843.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
3071.0 French Navy USB
3300.0 Algerian Military ALE/USB
3322.0 Russian Air Defense Net CW
3331.0 Algerian Military ALE/USB
3333.0 Russian Military CW
3354.0 Russian Military CW
3930.0 Kinloss Rescue: ARCC Kinloss USB
4000.0 National Guard Ohio ALE/USB
4093.8 Russian Mil RUS-75/USB
4179.0 REA4-HQ LRAF Moscow 1000/50
4271.0 CFH-CanForce Halifax FAX/RTTY/USB
4305.7 Russian Mil MS-5/4800/USB
4346.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
4372.0 US Navy FACSFAC VACAPES USB
4480.0 CanForce Military Net, Digital/USB
4521.5 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
4537.5 Russian Mil 81-81
4562.0 National Guard New York ALE/USB
4601.5 Irish Navy ARQ
4611.5 US Army CONUS Aviation Net ALE/USB
4952.0 NATO/DoD Link 11 data transmission
5220.0 Polish Military HF Net ALE/USB
5296.5 US Army Iraq Net ALE/USB
5394.0 Russian Mil Net CW
5450.0 RAF VOLMET USB
5542.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
5554.5 US Army Aviation Net ALE/USB
5602.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
5696.0 US Coast Guard Fixed Wing Air/Ground USB
5705.0 NATO/DoD Link 11 data transmission
5708.0 US Army 12th Avn Bn ALE/USB
5711.0 Shares SCN ALE Net ALE/USB
5732.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
6277.6 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
6385.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
6486.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
6496.4 CFH-CanForce Halifax FAX/RTTY/USB
6715.0 DISA Secure Internet Protocol Router Net (SIPR) ALE/USB
6721.0 US Army 12th Avn Bn ALE/USB
6754.0 CanForce MACS VOLMET Trenton USB
6761.0 USAF Aerial Refueling Discrete USB
6790.0 US Navy Link 11 data transmission
6809.0 Ukrainian Military CW
6860.0 Unknown Possible Military ALE/USB
6880.0 Unknown Possible Military ALE/USB
6906.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
6911.5 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
7003.0 US Army Aviation Net ALE/USB
7010.0 Unknown Possible Military ALE/USB
7018.0 REA4-Russian LRAF HQ Moscow 1000/50
7348.0 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Radio System (FNARS) USB
7527.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
7650.0 US Army National Guard Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB and Ohio National Guard/Air National Guard Aviation Net ALE/USB
7819.0 US Army National Guard Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
7839.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
7932.0 Russian Mil MS-5/DPSK/4800/USB
7938.0 Unknown Possible Military ALE/USB
8000.0 Mexican Army ALE/USB
8003.0 US Army Avition Net ALE/USB
8012.0 USAF Civil Air Patrol ALE/USB
8045.0 Mexican Army ALE/USB
8057.0 Ohio National Guard/Air National Guard Aviation Net ALE/USB
8065.0 Skywatch-US Army Flight Following Service (AFFS) ALE/USB
8090.0 Mexican Army ALE/USB
8171.5 US Army National Guard Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
8270.0 Venezuela Navy ALE/USB
8331.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
8337.6 US Coast Guard CAMSLANT Chesapeake ANDVT/USB
8412.0 IDR-Italian Navy Rome RTTY 75 baud
8461.5 9MR-Malaysian Navy Johor Baharu RTTY 450/50 encrypted
8476.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
8500.0 RBSL-Indian Navy RTTY 850/50 and Venezuela Navy ALE/USB
8542.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
8565.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
8634.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
8714.0 US Army HF Net ALE/USB
8912.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
8950.5 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
8983.0 US Coast Guard Fixed Wing Air/Ground USB
9017.0 Venezuela Navy ALE/USB
9025.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB
9081.5 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
9096.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
9122.5 US Army Corps of Engineers Net ALE/USB
9190.0 US Military Task Force Afghanistan ALE/USB
9295.0 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
10242.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
10000.0 Ohio National Guard/Air National Guard Aviation Net ALE/USB
10588.0 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Radio System (FNARS) USB
10600.0 Venezuela Army ALE/USB
10680.0 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
10692.5 US Army Aviation Net WAROPS (1/228th Avn Regt ("Winged Warriors") Operations-Soto Cano AB, Honduras ALE/USB
10821.0 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
10993.6 US Coast Guard MAP Ops ANDVT/USB
11067.0 US Army Aviation Iraq Net ALE/USB
11170.5 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
11175.0 HF-GCS Primary USB
11181.0 DISA Secure Internet Protocol Router Net (SIPR) ALE/USB
11205.0 Southcom Flight Monitoring Facility (FMF) "Smasher" USB
11217.0 SHARES SCN Net ALE/USB
11226.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB
11232.0 CanForce MACS Trenton Military USB
11253.0 RAF VOLMET USB
11494.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
11551.5 US Army Aviation Net CONUS ALE/USB
13058.0 Unid Mil STANAG 4285/USB
13215.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB
13568.0 National Guard Nationwide Net ALE/USB
13907.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
13927.1 USAF MARS HF Phone Patch Net USB
14569.0 Venezuela Army ALE/USB
15043.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB
15867.0 US BICE COTHEN ALE/USB
17487.0 Shares SCN ALE/STI Net ALE/USB
18003.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB
18248.6 US Department of State HF Net ALE/USB (Yea, I know not mil, but I couldn't resist)
20810.6 US Department of State HF Net ALE/USB
23337.0 USAF HF-GCS Scope Command ALE HF Network ALE/USB

Fort Benning, Georgia 380-399.9 TRS Profile

Fort Benning, Georgia (System ID: 01e)
System: Project 25 Standard

Frequencies:
Site 101 386.0750/396.0750c 386.2250/396.2250c 388.0000/398.000c

Site 202 386.1375/396.1375c 386.2875/396.2875c 386.4375/396.4375
386.5875/396.5875 386.7375/396.7375 386.9500/396.9500c
388.1125/398.1125 388.2625/398.2625 388.4125/398.4125
388.5625/398.5625

Site 303 388.2500/398.2500 388.5500/398.5500 388.7000/398.7000 388.8500/398.8500 389.4875/398.4875

Talkgroups:
1057 Foxtrot Base
1060 Rock Force Base
3202 Military Police Dispatch
3208 Military Police Checkpoints
3217 Sniper School
3253 Rock Steady Base
3254 Comanche calling any station this net / Comanche calling Guardian 6
3255 Bayonet Battalion Net
3257 Charlie Sierra calling Patriot Sierra / Charlie 2 calling Rock Force Sierra
3260 Charlie 4 calling Rock Force Sierra
3261 Patriot Base
3272 Wildlife/Forestry Management
3282 Scorpion Elements
3327 Squad leaders (tentative) calling TOC
3335 Dragon Elements
3345 Fryar Drop Zone
3346 Fryar Drop Zone
3442 Fire Department Dispatch
3443 Fire Department Base
3453 Lawson AAF
3456 EMS Operations
3465 Martin Army Community Hospital Emergency Room
3516 Kingpin (Transportation/Buses)
3517 Transportation
3535 Diablo Elements
3568 Range Control
3569 Range Control
3636 Ammunition Stock Control
3648 Bulldog Elements
3701 E-911
3702 Range Control – Lifenet/EMS
3703 Range Control
3708 Range Control – Skywatch

Unknown user/usage 1050, 1053, 1056, 3205, 3220, 3222, 3224, 3225, 3227, 3247, 3248, 3249, 3251, 3476, 3482, 3704 and 3705

Updates for this system are always welcomed.