Compass Call comes to Hunter for joint training

Photo By Chad Ashe | Electronic Warfare Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division and Air Force pose for photo behind the Compass Call aircraft for joint training with Army Electronic Warfare Officers Oct. 9 on Hunter Army Airfield.  

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, UNITED STATES

10.09.2014

Story by Capt. Chad Ashe 

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - According to an Air Force news release, the EC-130H Compass Call is an airborne tactical weapon system that uses a heavily modified version of the C-130 Hercules airframe. The system disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management. In simple terms, the aircraft jams enemy radio signals.

Electronic warfare personnel throughout 3rd Infantry Division partnered with Air Force counterparts in a training event on Hunter Army Airfield, Oct. 9. The training consisted of a capabilities brief and hands-on tour of the aircraft with Compass Call personnel.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Steven Carter is 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade’s Electronic Warfare Technician and organized the event for 3rd ID. Additionally, he coordinated a visit to be conducted later with 82nd Airborne Division’s Electronic Warfare Officers.

“This is the first time the Air Force has done Electronic Warfare training for 3ID and the second time for the Army,” Carter said.

Lt. Col. Anthony Pisano, 3rd ID EWO, said this training opportunity provided a unique opportunity to see the aircrafts' capabilities effects and more.

“More than often we are going to be working with this aircraft. The opportunity for us to not only to see what aircraft can do, but to also talk to the people we will be working with or deploy,” Pisano said.

The Army EWOs were not the only ones who benefitted from the training. The Compass Call provides systems to those on the ground, but prevents overall success without knowing the needs of the customer.

Air Force Capt. Jacob Jordan, Electronic Warfare Officer stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, said that the classroom portion was beneficial to understand how the systems pair together for one job on the ground.

“Coming out here and being able to talk to the customers you’re supporting on the ground is good for us, so we know how to employ our systems better,” Jordan said.

“Most think of EW in the Army as Counter Radio-controlled Electronic Warfare with Improvised Explosive Devices, but with joint assets we are very effective at targeting cyber, radio, satellite and radar systems,” Carter said.

• Date Taken: 10.09.2014
• Date Posted: 10.13.2014 09:53
• Story ID: 144961
• Location: HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, GA, US