Photo By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale | Airmen with the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron, 194th Wing, Washington Air...... read more read more
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The 116th Air Support Operations Squadron conducted a field exercise to test and refine advanced communication technology in continued preparation for the future of modern warfare, at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., Feb. 4-5, 2025.
The exercise focused on setting up and training with complex communication networks and waveforms, including Tactical Scalable Mobile Ad-hoc Network, Mobile User Objective System, and High Frequency. These systems are designed to communicate covertly, using minimal radio frequency signatures to avoid detection by electromagnetic spectrum analyzers.
“We are setting up a small digital footprint so that we are not found with a directional finder when we blast out a radio signal,” said Tech. Sgt. Trevin Baker, 116th ASOS Tactical Air Control Party Command and Control craftsman.
Upon arrival to the simulated deployed location, Special Warfare Mission Support Airmen rapidly set up generators and tents, C2 set up their communication networks, and Integrated Sensing and Effects Teams were deployed into the field.
ISET worked in conjunction with C2 to establish communications and relay targeting and positional information. For this specific operation, ISET were reporting simulated enemy convoy movements.
There were two ISET, consisting of 6-10 personnel. They were supported by a headquarters element located in the rear with each team reporting back to it.
“We funnel our information that we're seeing for our [air] strikes through the HQ,” said Staff Sgt. JP Guyer, 116th ASOS Air Force Special Warfare program manager. “HQ skims through all that, packages it all up and sends it up to the next level, which in our case would be TACP C2”
The exercise simulated Air Interdiction operations, where aircraft neutralize enemy targets from a distance. Unlike traditional Close Air Support, where aircraft operate in a permissive airspace, AI demands careful coordination and communication.
“CAS is very friendly centric, very permissive airspace for our fighters and bombers,” said Guyer. “Air interdiction is going to be on the flip side of that coin. It's very planned out, very strategic. So instead of them just flying above us in a circle and dropping bombs all day, they'd be way out in the distance. They’d received the strike package from the ISET, which would work all the way up through all those advanced communications, TSM, MUOS, and all that stuff.”
The 116th ASOS is evolving its mission set to address the new strategic environment, one in which uncontested air superiority is no longer guaranteed.
“The air space is congested, it’s not ours,” said Baker. “The shaping operations that we’re a part of are more covert. Because the air is contested, we have to plan around those limitations.”
While the traditional ASOS mission sets have not disappeared, the context and strategies behind them have adapted to the changing landscape of modern warfare. As a result, focus is shifting towards advanced reconnaissance and communications.
As warfare continues to evolve, so does the training and operational focus. The 116th ASOS’ recent exercise at JBLM marks an important step in preparing the squadron — and the Air National Guard — for the future of air support operations.
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2025 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 492651 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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