Electronic Warfare Operators Certified, Ready to Fight

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Kristan L. Hericks, the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, speaks to the graduates of the Electronic Warfare Operator's course held April 13-17. The EWO course covers the maintenance and operation of various signal-jamming devices that aid in preventing the detonation of improvised explosive devices.  

TAJI, IRAQ

05.11.2009

Courtesy Story

10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

CAMP TAJI, Iraq — Training for the unique methods of the enemy requires unique countermeasures and constant adaptation, something today's American military does very well.

The Electronic Warfare Operators learned how to use various improvised explosive device signal-jamming equipment in a course held April 13 - 17, a defense that has proved helpful in many situations.

"We covered Army Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare and Navy Channel systems that ride with the vehicles each night," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael D. Rivers, an Atlanta native and 419th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion Electronic Warfare Officer.

The CREW is the Army's response to insurgents' use of remote-detonated explosive devices, the primary killer of Soldiers in combat. But new weapons, and the defense against those weapons, are only as useful as the operators, which was the bulk of the EWO course. "We covered how to assure that each system was working properly, and how to verify the equipment had the correct settings to accomplish the goal," said Rivers. EWO is something that needs to be spread out as much as possible, said Rivers. "The more Soldiers that know about it, and know how to use it, the better."

• Date Taken: 05.11.2009
• Date Posted: 05.11.2009 05:12
• Story ID: 33450
• Location: TAJI, IQ