Global Patriot '98
Story by MAJ Herb Porter - Photos courtesy U.S. Air Force
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The Air National Guard is hosting Global Patriot '98, a major multi-service, multi-national, joint training operation.
This exercise will provide realistic, low-cost, joint field training that combines flight operations with live-fire and land-based maneuvers to over 15,000 reserve component personnel nationwide.
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The Air National Guard, Army National Guard, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Army, Army Reserve, Navy, and Marine forces will join Dutch, British, Paraguayan, and Canadian forces to participate in joint training scenarios at four major locations across the United States: Fort Drum, NY; the Combat Readiness Training Center, Volk Field, WI; the Utah Test and Training Range, Dugway Proving Grounds, UT; and Shaw Air Force Base, SC.Operations will be controlled from the operations center of the 9th Air Force, located at Shaw. The exercise will provide an unprecedented opportunity for United States and foreign national military Reserve Component forces to train together and find battlefield solutions in the area of command and control.
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Over 50 members of the 262nd Combat Communications Squadron, headquartered in Bellingham, WA will deploy to Ft. Drum, NY during the first half of July to participate in Global Patriot 98. Their mission will be to provide tactical communications support to the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the 174th Fighter Wing.
Washington Air Guardsmen will furnish state-of-the-art voice and data communications, including MILNET, fax capability, and e-mail connectivity. Furthermore, they will assist the Air Force Research Laboratories by providing direct connectivity from field locations to the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) at Griffiss AFB, NY. The unit will be co-located with the 6th Combat Battalion of the Marine Corps Reserve, who will provide wide-band transmissions, to augment the high-tech satellite and computer equipment operated by the 262nd CBCS.
In addition, two other Air Guard squadrons from the Pacific Northwest will lend additional communications support for Global Patriot '98.
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Both the 143rd CBCS from Seattle, WA, and the 244th Portland IAP, OR, will deploy to Fort Lewis, WA. These Guardsmen will establish voice communications and other network links with the Utah Test and Training Range located at Dugway Proving Grounds, UT, via satellite transmission, routed through the Reachback Facility at Langley Air Force Base, VA.
Global Patriot '98 will create a battlefield environment that will emphasize joint interoperability and interconnectivity, with live exercise action centered on the activation and mobilization of forces to support a theater campaign.
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Concurrently, the exercise will permit integration and testing of advanced command and control technology along with new systems developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
As part of America’s Total Force package, the National Guard and Reserve forces will deploy side-by-side with their active duty counterparts preparing all military members and units for international coalition missions in support of world crises and contingencies.
A wide range of activities will occur in Global Patriot '98. They will include tactical land maneuvers, a wide range of aviation operations, and strategic and tactical command and control exercises.
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Units deploying to the various locations will participate in combat communications, air expeditionary forces, tactical operations, operational readiness, and theater aeromedical evacuation activities. All major operation sites will be concurrently linked by a sophisticated satellite communications system to ensure a timely, effective, and efficient operation.
The total cost of the operation is being held to a minimum by coordinating normally scheduled Annual Training with the conduct of the exercise. In addition, much of the transportation will be provided by local flying units, further reducing expenditures.
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