Fayetteville soldier trains international defense forces on radio operations

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Christopher Okula | Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Labador, forward deployed from 98th Civil Affairs Battalion in Fort Bragg, N.C., instructs a roomful of defense forces from various partner nations in the operation of a portable high-frequency (HF) radio as part of Tradewinds 2013. Labador said that these radios, used in communicating during maritime operations, are a good candidate for partner nations to train with because of their highly functional and user-friendly interface. Participants from several partner nations previously relied on mobile phones to communicate during maritime operations because of their unfamiliarity with HF radio. Tradewinds 2013 is a joint, combined exercise conducted in conjunction with partner nations to enhance the collective abilities of defense forces and constabularies to counter transnational organized crime and to conduct humanitarian/disaster relief operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher Okula/Released)  

CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA

05.21.2013

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Okula 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia - A Fayetteville, N.C., native spearheaded a training session Tuesday to familiarize an assembly of international service members with the use of portable high-frequency radios during Tradewinds 2013 in Saint Lucia.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Vincent Labador, a soldier with the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion, was among those selected to share his knowledge of HF radio, which Caribbean defense forces use to communicate with one another during waterborne security operations.

“We use this radio in our Humvees,” said Labador, who is based out of Fort Bragg, N.C. “With my expertise, I figured I could help them out.”

Labador said several participating nations gained access to similar models of radios during Tradewinds 2012, but a number of personnel declined to use them because they were unfamiliar with their operation.

“It's really important that we come here and show them how to use these radios because they're a great tool,” said Labador.

According to the Tradewinds 2013 communications officer in charge, participants sometimes relied on mobile phones to communicate between vessels and their operations centers, which created difficulties because of the limitations of mobile-phone technology.

“This radio gives them a better range,” said Labador. “They're capable of going further out into the ocean and having communications back to their (operations) centers or to sister islands.”

Because of their limited range, mobile phones can compromise the effectiveness of maritime defenses.

“The more they train on radio usage, the easier it will be,” said Labador. “They shouldn't be anywhere in the water without having (communications) back to their (operations) center. This radio training will give them that capability.”

Tradewinds is an annual joint and combined military exercise designed to strengthen maritime security throughout the Caribbean Basin via the exchange of expertise between partner nations and the United States.

The United States is one of 15 nations participating in this year's exercise, with members from all of the U.S. armed services contributing their respective skills.

Editor’s note: The Tradewinds 2013 Public Affairs staff internally removed some of the names of U.S. personnel for operational security.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2013
• Date Posted: 05.22.2013 20:22
• Story ID: 107411
• Location: CASTRIES, LC
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US