Electronic Warfare: 'We Be Jammin''
Task Force 38 Story by Spc. Elizabeth Gorenc 02.01.2010
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq, - Providing the definition of joint operations, the Army, Air Force and Navy teamed up to teach electronic warfare during their Operation Iraqi Freedom deployments.
Through the EW classes, Army 1st Lt. Laura Sizemore, Task Force 38 electronic warfare officer; Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Chapelo, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron EWO; and Navy Lt. David Mauel, Camp Buehring, Kuwait electronic warfare training assistant officer in charge, taught
servicemembers how to use their Counter Radio-controlled
Improvised Explosive Device electronic warfare or CREW systems here.
Sizemore, Indianapolis, said CREW systems provide troops with protection through controlling and jamming the electromagnetic spectrum outside the convoys that could be used to detonate RCIED's.
"It's not like IED's and RCIED's went away," she said. "They are still out there, but when a convoy goes out on a mission and doesn't get hit, that's a successful CREW mission."
Although, Sizemore said the lack of action during a successful mission made the success of CREW system's jamming ability hard to measure.
"When crew systems work, we don't know," said Sizemore, who taught lecture portions of the classes. "So it's hard to convince someone that something works when success means nothing happens."
In order to prove CREW systems' capability to jam signal, hands-on instruction was integrated into each class.
Chapelo, Rochester, N.Y., led the hands-on training to show servicemembers how to make sure their equipment was fully operational and able to jam signals.
"We teach [service members] basic troubleshooting," said Chapelo. "They learn how to make sure the boxes are good to go by checking all of the cables and connections."
He said working with different military services helped the integrity of the class as well as created relationships between the different branches.
"It's been a good experience working with the different branches," said Chapelo. "It has allowed me to network and gives different perspectives to what different services really do."
Mauel, of Chehalis, Wash., worked with Sizemore and Chapelo before he relocated to Kuwait and agreed that joint operation teamwork helped enhance respect of the different military branches.
"It has been a real learning experience that I am thankful for," said Mauel. "I went from fighting pirates on the coast of Africa to pounding sand with the Army. I have huge respect for what ground pounders do."
He added the different occupations and knowledge combined together to teach EW classes improved the effectiveness of the class's purpose.
"We share information, and the more we work together, the more lives we save," said Mauel.
Mauel said the EW classes provided military personnel with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves from RCIED's. He said the class benefited those who took it, as well as the whole military in the future.
"The more we know and train now, the better the future will be because we can save countless lives," he said.
Electronic warfare classes are available upon request of individual units and are tailored to the unit's needs. Classes may last from one day to three days based on the level of training required.
Sizemore, Indianapolis, said CREW systems provide troops with protection through controlling and jamming the electromagnetic spectrum outside the convoys that could be used to detonate RCIED's.
"It's not like IED's and RCIED's went away," she said. "They are still out there, but when a convoy goes out on a mission and doesn't get hit, that's a successful CREW mission."
Although, Sizemore said the lack of action during a successful mission made the success of CREW system's jamming ability hard to measure.
"When crew systems work, we don't know," said Sizemore, who taught lecture portions of the classes. "So it's hard to convince someone that something works when success means nothing happens."
In order to prove CREW systems' capability to jam signal, hands-on instruction was integrated into each class.
Chapelo, Rochester, N.Y., led the hands-on training to show servicemembers how to make sure their equipment was fully operational and able to jam signals.
"We teach [service members] basic troubleshooting," said Chapelo. "They learn how to make sure the boxes are good to go by checking all of the cables and connections."
He said working with different military services helped the integrity of the class as well as created relationships between the different branches.
"It's been a good experience working with the different branches," said Chapelo. "It has allowed me to network and gives different perspectives to what different services really do."
Mauel, of Chehalis, Wash., worked with Sizemore and Chapelo before he relocated to Kuwait and agreed that joint operation teamwork helped enhance respect of the different military branches.
"It has been a real learning experience that I am thankful for," said Mauel. "I went from fighting pirates on the coast of Africa to pounding sand with the Army. I have huge respect for what ground pounders do."
He added the different occupations and knowledge combined together to teach EW classes improved the effectiveness of the class's purpose.
"We share information, and the more we work together, the more lives we save," said Mauel.
Mauel said the EW classes provided military personnel with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves from RCIED's. He said the class benefited those who took it, as well as the whole military in the future.
"The more we know and train now, the better the future will be because we can save countless lives," he said.
Electronic warfare classes are available upon request of individual units and are tailored to the unit's needs. Classes may last from one day to three days based on the level of training required.
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