Rapid Launch of 20 B-52 Bombers at Minot during Exercise Global Thunder 17

Exercise Global Thunder 18 is either underway or will be shortly. Standby for HFGCS EAMs to light up and ur ADS-B to ramp up as well. Should be fun for the next week or so. I will be following the action over on our tweeter feed @MilcomMP. CU there!

U.S. Strategic Command's Exercise Global Thunder set to begin

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) headquarters staff, components and task forces will participate in exercise Global Thunder, which starts Oct. 24.
The annual command post and field training exercise is designed to train USSTRATCOM forces and assess joint operational readiness across all Unified Command Plan-assigned mission areas.

“Testing our forces through a range of challenging scenarios validates the safety, security, effectiveness and readiness of the strategic deterrent we provide the nation,” said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander. “U.S. Strategic Command forces are on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing the credible deterrent capable of convincing potential adversaries that they cannot escalate their way out of a failed conflict, restraint is a better option.”

Global Thunder is both a command post and field training exercise to provide training from planning at the combatant command through execution at the tactical level, with a specific focus on cyber, space, missile defense and nuclear readiness.

“Maintaining strategic stability in an era of evolving challenges requires innovative and comprehensive solutions,” said Haney. “The scenarios presented in Global Thunder will drive the critical thinking needed to provide the president options that, in concert with a whole-of-government approach that includes our allies, are required to maintain twenty-first century deterrence.”

Exercise Global Thunder HF Traffic

Exercise Global Thunder is U.S. Strategic Command's annual field training and battle staff exercise, designed to exercise all mission areas with primary emphasis on nuclear command and control.

Global Thunder provides training opportunities for forces to deter, and if necessary, defeat a military attack against the United States - employing forces as directed by the president.

"Strategic deterrence, nuclear force employment, and command and control remain core missions for the Department of Defense," said Col. James Dawkins, 5th Bomb Wing commander. "This exercise demonstrates USSTRATCOM's ability to carry out its strategic nuclear deterrence mission."

The Global Thunder exercises are designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of USSTRATCOM and its components providing opportunities to incorporate the most current technology and techniques in support of these efforts.

Following traffic was monitored by Jeff Haverlah in Houston and is related to this exercise: Thanks for sharing with the rest of us Jeff.

1931z 27 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at 1900z and 1930z with ANGRY MAN (good/fair levels here) with the "standing by for traffic" statement (x2).

2005z 27 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at 2003z with ANDREWS (fair/good levels) with a 6-character EAM (AMGY2H) "FOR YANKEE FORCE".

2026z 27 Oct 12 15016.0 was active at 2023z with ANDREWS (good levels) bcsting a 6-character EAM (AMM6XU) "FOR YANKEE FORCE".

2231z 27 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at at 2030z with ANDREWS (good levels) bcsting a 28-character EAM (VHHAFZ). At 2032z (after the completion of the ANDREWS xmsn) ANGRY MAN was on frequency with the "standing by for traffic statement". Nothing heard since until...
11175.0 was active at 2230z with ANGRY MAN (fair/good) with the "standing by for traffic"
statement.

1935z 28 Oct 12 8992.0 was active at 1930z with CARPENTER (good levels here) bcsting 32-character EAM (IEPION) with the character count statement, closing with the "Standing by for traffic" statement (x2), and out. Simulcasting same on at least 11175.0 (fair/good) with nothing heard on 4724.0 or 15016.0. H+00/h+30 active. Suspected 'glass activity.

2024z 28 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at 1956z with ANDREWS bcsting a 28-character EAM
(VH5VNQ).

At 1958z CARPENTER (guess; no id given) keyed the 11175.0 in preparation for their H+00 EAM restoral. At 1959z an unknown station (garbled id, good to fair levels; deep voice) called "(sounded like "bowel" or "b-owl" aircraft) and requested they "check into the net.

At 2000z CARPENTER (fair) was up with VH5VNQ but did not close with the "standing by for traffic" statement. He dueled with ANDREWS bcsting their H+00 restoral of VH5VNQ and the 28-character EAM (VHPPQ7).

At the conclusion of the ANDREWS bcst, RED RIVER (now the id is clearly heard) came up on freq with another call for "All (something; could not make it out) check in with (sounded like "weather") on HF". RED RIVER was then up with a string of multiple numbers, and then calling what sounded
like "b-owl" aircraft again. He may have acknowledged a call from a "b-owl ##".

At 2008z CARPENTER (fair/weak) was up on 11175.0 with the "standing by for traffic statement" (x2) and out.

11175.0 was active with (sounded like "broad pin" or ??; weak/fair but unable to get a clear id) bcdsting VH5VNQ and VHPPQ7 and ending with the "standing by for traffic statement." H+10/h+40 activity. Possible TACAMO LANT activity.

At 2023z RED RIVER (good strong) called (unable to make out) 11.

2051z 28 Oct 12 13200.0 was found active at 2045z while scrolling through the HFGCS with (something; maybe AMBER) 14 (good/fair levels here) bcsting a 274 message of ? groups (missed complete message). Last 10 groups: XMP ROS XMZ WNB CTV XMP YTI HTF CTR WNB [note the repeats].

Immediately after 14's bcst AMBER 14 (good/strong levels) came up on 13200.0 with "This is AMBER 14 with an EXERCISE GLOBAL THUNDER 274 message of 21 groups" and into TYN XCE KSP RVO RAS GQE WNB YNL EJQ ROS XMP [maybe RMOS or ROS] XMJ WNB CTV XMPYTI HTF YTI WNB XMP [again, note the repeats]. And out.

274 messages (replaced 369 messages a bunch of years ago) are sometimes heard; at least one instance of an "JCS Exercise Global Guardian" EAM was heard in the late 90s during a GLOBAL GUARDIAN exercise; but what is unusual (to me) is the use of 13200.0. I didn't hear these stations
rolling through the other HFGCS freqs. Has 13200.0 become "special"?

It also confirmed that this is a GLOBAL THUNDER 13 exercise instead of a GLOBAL LIGHTNING 13 exercise presumed to be common at this time of the year.

2110z 28 Oct 12 Post (nuclear) attack battle damage traffic. I've never heard a stated GLASS EYE report during these exercises such as the following until now.

13200.0 was active at 2054z with ANDREWS bcsting a 28-character EAM (VHS7WL).

13200.0 was active at 2107z with (could not make out id) 14 calling SKYMASTER with "GLASS EYE" (spoken) "flash traffic": "FLASH 281930 FLASH KKOFF FLASH 1 FLASH 02 FLASH 7A FLASH FLASH"; then repeated to SKYMASTER and gone. Apparently in the blind with no heard response from any SKYMASTER. [Would that be KOFF?]

2141z 28 Oct 12 13200.0 was active at 2130z with ANDREWS' h+00/h+30 restoral of VHS7WL; VHPPQ7; VH5UNQ.

13200.0 was active at the immediate completion of the ANDREWS' restoral with A**** 15 (sounds like AGROM or AMBER; weak/fair) calling SKYMASTER "on 13200" with "274 message of 20 groups" and then into XQK LID Y?? HTF SNV HTF PNU TQA NGI XMP ??? MKD S?P ?H? XIX MKD WNB HTF YTI XMP, and repeated.

13200.0 was active at 2145z with A**** 14 (maybe AGROM (sounds like) 14) calling SKYMASTER with a 274 message of 28 groups and into DTP SAJ UQG RVO COS WNB YNL EYI TQC XMP ROS XMA WNB YTI HTF YTI XMP MJB SNV GXP WNB CHL MKD XMP IVG ?NB VZR XMP and repeated, and gone. Again, not the repeated groups. They rush through the groups in their transmissions.. Lost the freq to a neighbor's TV at 2153z.

2244z 28 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at 2240z with BROAD BEAM (fair levels here) "standing by for traffic" (x2) and out. H+10/h+40 activity.

2321z 28 Oct 12 11175.0 was active at 2259z with SIGONELLA (fair levels here) with a test count and gone.

11175.0 was active at 2300z with CARPENTER (strong levels here) with the "standing by for traffic" statement (x2) and out.

11175.0 was active at 2304z with BROAD BEAM (fair levels) bcsting a 20-character EAM  (IERZ2T) and simulcasting same on 4724.0 (weak), 8992.0 (good/strong), and 15016.0 (weak). I don't recall ever hearing a player in these nets (at least since the major preamble "split" at 01 Oct 96)
transmitting this preamble series of strings (6/20/variable).

11175.0 was active at 2310z with BROAD BEAM "standing by for traffic" (x2) and out. No restoral string.

11175.0 was active at 2311z with OFFUTT (good levels) bcsting a "DTMF test count" (short count) and gone.

8992.0 was active at 2334z with CARPENTER (strong levels here) bcsting the 20-character EAM (IERZ2T)[VRCYG26WYB7PC2] followed with the "standing by for traffic" statement and out. (That suggests a h+04/h+34 window.)

8992.0 was active at 2337z with (maybe OFFUTT; not paying attention; good levels) bcsting the 20-character EAM IERZ2T but with the reading including the operator saying "item 13 garbled" in both readings of the string. (That would be the "6".)

0003z 29 Oct 12 8992.0 was active at 0000z with SAM WORTH (strong/good levels here) standing by for traffic (x2) and out. CARPENTER's new day callsign.

Eglin begins AFMC exercise

 EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Eglin begins participating in the Air Force Materiel Command's Exercise Global Thunder/Vigilant Shield 13 from Oct. 22 - 26. During this period, the installation might experience some delays or short closures in areas due to exercise requirements. The installation will try to keep impacts to an absolute minimum.

Air mobility, tanker support key elements of Global Thunder

by Roger Drinnon, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Air Mobility Command airlift and tanker support were key contributors to Exercise Global Thunder 2009 that ran June 24 through 30, AMC officials said recently.

Global Thunder 2009, a U.S. Strategic Command-led exercise, provided training opportunities for various service components, units and their respective command posts. During the exercise, AMC provided tanker and airlift support by coordinating and managing all tanker forces to include generating KC-135 tankers to alert and dispatching C-130 aircraft for critical airlift requirements.

"Our success came as a result of total force integration," said Col. Peggy Phillips, an individual mobilization augmentee to the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center director of current operations. "The combination of active-duty, air Reserve component and National Guard personnel demonstrated the interoperability needed in today's environment."

The 618th TACC is AMC's global Air Operations Center responsible for coordinating airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation operations. On a typical day, the 618th TACC coordinates an average of 900 airlift and air refueling missions, moving nearly 2,000 tons of cargo and more than 6,000 passengers globally.

Colonel Phillips said the 618th TACC staff coordinated and managed more than 40 aerial refueling missions and several airlift support missions during the exercise. She said the 22nd Air Refueling Wing from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., also demonstrated rapid deployment capability during an exercise scenario.

"I believe we instilled a sense of confidence (among the exercise participants) regarding AMC's role in these operations," said David Dey, deputy chief of the 618th TACC's Task Force 294 Division.

AMC officials support worldwide mobility operations for America's nuclear enterprise as well as for overseas contingency operations. Since Sept 11, 2001, AMC Airmen have airlifted 12.5 million passengers and more than 4.6 million tons of cargo in support of global operations. In support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, AMC members have delivered more than 3.6 million tons of cargo and nearly 9 million passengers. AMC tanker crews also have provided more than 1.5 billion gallons of fuel in support of global operations since Sept. 11, 2001.

Global Thunder exercises are designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of STRATCOM and its component commands. This exercise provides the opportunity to incorporate the most current technology and techniques in support of these efforts. The last similar exercise was held in August 2007.

151st ARW participates in Global Thunder - Lastest Update/Comment

Editor's Note: Contrary to fanatical post I have been told about elsewhere on the Internet, based on the intel that I have put together, the recent heavy NAOC/TACAMO/EAM activity was "all" part of Global Thunder, a regular USSTRATCOM military exercise. No it wasn't due to situation in Iran, no not North Korea, and definitly no not the Hondurian coup! You folks need to wrap your tinfoil on your heads a bit tighter, get a grip and use some common sense.

This version of Global Thunder involved the 8th AF and Task Force 294 with the tanker mission. This year the USAF got away from the command post exercises of the recent past and back to force exercises (FTX).

by Maj. Krista DeAngelis, 151st ARW/PA

SALT LAKE CITY -- The clock strikes zero-six-thirty as members of the 151st Air Refueling Wing report for their monthly Unit Training Assembly June 27.

It's unusually early for a drill weekend, but the base is buzzing with activity as Airmen prepare for the U.S. Strategic Command exercise known as Global Thunder.

Global Thunder is the command's major nuclear exercise that includes command post activities as well as force generation and flying operations. The 151st ARW's nuclear support mission includes the air refueling of flying assets. This weekend, Airmen from the wing will run through the process of generating aircraft and aircrews to support that mission.

"With the Air Force's emphasis on nuclear enterprise, it's important for us to be up to speed on our nuclear support mission," said Col. Kelvin Findlay, 151st ARW commander.

Security forces and aircrew alike are poised to respond to the exercise launch message at any time. The wing has even set up a Crisis Action Team with commanders who can coordinate the exercise details.

"The exercise and generation process kicked off early this week," explained Colonel Findlay. "The Guard has simulated some of the processes, but this weekend our aircrews and maintainers will be going through briefings, pre-flight checklists, getting aircraft ready, starting engines and getting ready to taxi."

Capt. Mike Flocco from the 151st ARW Command Post has been integrally involved in the exercise on the operational side. His job is to monitor the aircrews, make sure they are in the right places and be accountable for everyone.

"We give briefings on the scenario and the exercise runs its course," he explained. "We respond and adapt as necessary with our aircrews and airplanes."

"A lot of agencies on base were gearing up and preparing for the exercise," continued Captain Flocco. "Some of the agencies involved include life support, supply, intel, wing plans, security forces, maintenance and command post."

Due to the recent issues within the nuclear community, the active-duty Air Force has recently implemented "no-notice" inspections at nuclear bases. In response to the possibility the Guard may also implement short-notice inspections, the 151st ARW initiated this month's Tanker Strategic Aircraft Regeneration Team exercise.

"It's important we learn lessons from the exercise, and we've already seen some mistakes," Col. Findlay, 151st ARW commander said. "Communication is always a problem...but we always learn new things every time."

By late afternoon, the exercise has run its course with the generated aircraft and aircrews responding as required. Aircrew and support personnel alike are tired, but happy with yet another successful exercise.

"Everyone worked effectively to accomplish the mission, and the agencies worked very well together," said Captain Flocco. "Nowadays, our nuclear mission is more critical than ever with the current global situation and escalation of world tensions."