Photo By Airman 1st Class Amber Anderson | U.S. Army Spc. Vincent Marra (left), a cargo specialist with 470th Battalion, 251th...... read more read more
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For the first time at Exercise Northern Strike, leadership offered a Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC) and Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) training class base-wide.
The purpose of the class was to increase base defense by training individuals to detect, track and ultimately disrupt and destroy unmanned airborne vehicles.
“The instructional course should have a good and positive impact for everyone,” said James Johnson, training instructor from Axient, a contracted training partner with the military. “[The course] raises a general awareness for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) because they are a threat, and that's what we're getting hit by. It's not force-on-force – it's force on things coming out of the sky.”
The BDOC C-sUAS class spanned over 40 hours of total training, including formal classroom instruction on UAS threats. The students learned airspace deconfliction, avoiding airborne conflicts and collisions.
“We teach what to look for, such as visual aircraft recognition, characteristics like elevation, different types of platforms, flight behaviors, avenues of approach and all aspects of reporting,” said Johnson. “I believe that everyone on an installation should at least have general knowledge of what they're looking for.”
The first iteration of the class was a five-day class that tests the participants' practical skills using joysticks and training simulators. Participants used a Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) for all engagements. The FAAD C2 is a computer program designed to simulate realistic threats. Participants also had access to Nighthawk camera air pictures to provide visuals to make the simulations life-like. The final element combining all of the other elements was a simulation program that acted as an engine and pushed out the training scenarios.
“We are constantly going through drills and different scenarios,” said U.S. Army Pfc. Christopher Conklin, 649th 649th Regional Support Group Cargo Specialist. “It's easier for us to react to new things as well.”
The FAAD C2 can integrate with existing Army radars, weapon systems and cameras to create realistic real-world scenarios.
According to Johnson, one of the challenges the participants had coming into the training was the knowledge gap between their current military job or military occupational specialty and the newest training. The training is often something the participants have never seen before in their lives. Once the participants get past the “intimidation factor” and see how vital their role is, they are eventually able to execute the training with ease.
“Since Monday we have grown in confidence with the technology,” said U.S. Army Spc. Michael Cook, 649th Regional Support Group Cargo Specialist, Illinois Army Reserve, Decatur, Illinois. “It seemed really complicated at first but the more we dealt with it and played with it in the simulations it has gotten easier. We are learning more stuff every day.”
That learning has real-life implications.
“The confidence level goes through the roof once they fully understand and are aware of their roles and responsibilities and how critical it is for the knowledge that we give them,” said Johnson. “Those reactions save lives. You're protecting everyone on the installation, which is what we want, everyone to come home.”
The importance of that confidence in participants’ reaction times was a key aspect of C-sUAS training at Northern Strike.
“We have seen what a drone would do if it got into the base – what they may or not be targeting. It could devastate an operation,” said Cook.
Indeed, Johnson's hope for the training is that once awareness of the effectiveness and knowledge gained during Exercise Northern Strike 24-2 spreads, more participants in future iterations of the exercise will be able to gain experience with the system and further strengthen the military’s overall effectiveness in BDOC and C-sUAS.
Northern Strike 24-2, one of the Department of Defense's largest reserve component readiness exercises, is scheduled to take place at Michigan's National All Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) from August 3-17, 2024. Over 6,300 participants from 32 states and territories and several international participants will converge at the NADWC. Northern Strike is the premier reserve component training event designed to build readiness with joint and partner forces in all domains of warfare.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2024 10:13 |
| Story ID: | 478178 |
| Location: | CAMP GRAYLING JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 239 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Service members train to defeat hostile sUAS at Northern Strike 24-2, by A1C Amber Anderson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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