Photo By Sgt. Catherine Graham | Chief Petty Officer Landry Joseph, native of Alexandria, La., a Navy Electronics...... read more read more
By Sgt. Catherine Graham
926th Engineer Brigade
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Protecting the force has always been an objective of the U.S. military. In World War II, the German air force (Luftwaffe) bombers used radio-beam navigation for night bombing missions. Today our military has advanced this type of warfare so that it may be applied on air, sea, land, and space. Electronic Warfare, once the primary expertise of the Air Force and Navy, has now become a part of the Army. The 890th Engineer Battalion has also embraced this technology by having the first Army Integrated Electronic Warfare officer in the Multi-National Division-Baghdad area, with support from the Navy and Air Force.
The Army has developed its own EW Military Occupational Skill in response to tactical necessity. The position will eventually relieve the embedded Navy from its mission to support the Army.
Staff Sgt. David Legrone, the 890th Eng. Bn's first EW MOS qualified Soldier, and Chief Petty Officer Landry Joseph of the U.S. Navy together assists the 890th Eng. Bn and other Electronic Warfare officers in the Baghdad area to accomplish the transition. They work together with other EWOs in the Baghdad area to support different variations of the Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare systems. They are responsible for teaching Soldiers proper operation of the systems at the Task Force Iron Claw School, keeping the CREW systems in operational condition, and reporting system readiness. The EWO is also charged with initiating reports about electronic warfare operations that assist in future operational security.
The battalion uses this technology to protect Soldiers by neutralizing radio controlled improvised explosive devices during missions. This is achieved by manipulating the electromagnetic spectrum and applying directed energy to deny the use of radio-operated electronics that can be used to complete a circuit. In simpler terms, it prevents improvised explosive devices from detonating. In addition to the up-armored equipment, the CREW System protects personnel and equipment allowing the 890th to complete its mission successfully.
Life as an EWO is very demanding due to IEDs being the insurgent's primary weapon of choice in this theater. Legrone and Joseph are engaged in every regard from routine maintenance checks on CREW systems to providing field operability assessments on CREW devices to defeating new threats in the Multi-National Division- Baghdad area of responsibility. Because the electronic warfare officers can't be in two places at one time, the EWOs have assistants called CREW specialists. CREW specialists receive one week of formal training along with hands-on training from their EWOs. CREW Specialists are capable of trouble shooting and minor repairs while the patrol is on mission. They also reported to the EWOs regarding any CREW discrepancies they encounter and cannot resolve. To keep the job as a EWO in perspective, Joseph sums it up by simply telling Soldiers "An Electronic Warfare officer's job is to make sure Soldiers come back the same way they left out."
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.12.2008 08:54 |
| Story ID: | 24849 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 405 |
| Downloads: | 154 |
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