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Communication Strategy and Operations Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) recently conducted a field training exercise to test new 5G communications technology designed to support rapid, secure imagery transmission in contested and austere environments.
The training, part of a broader capability evaluation led by the Tactical Communications and Electromagnetic Warfare (TCE) program office, focused on expeditionary communications systems that allow Marines to transmit high-resolution photos, video, and written content in real time from the field.
The multi-day event, held at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, placed Marines in realistic scenarios where they were tasked with collecting content and sending it to a simulated higher headquarters using a suite of emerging 5G systems.
“One of the biggest challenges in the digital realm for warfighters is communications going down, and once it’s up, protecting that connection,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Izzel Sanchez, II MEF COMMSTRAT visual information officer. “The new systems we’re putting together aim to fix that. We need to test them in these environments so when the scenario changes, we can change too and still execute the mission effectively.”
Marines trained on systems including a 5G expeditionary router and the Starshield, a lightweight satellite antenna capable of creating high-speed, reliable uplinks in the absence of traditional infrastructure.
The exercise tasked Marines with capturing and editing short visual products under time constraints, then transmitting those products using the new systems. Each piece of gear was evaluated for its effectiveness, ease of use and field durability.
“Timeliness is critical. If a Marine captures an image and holds onto it, the public doesn’t know what’s happening,” said Sanchez. “By pairing speed with quality, we can deliver the truth quickly, counter propaganda, and give commanders and the public the real story from the ground.”
Sanchez emphasized the growing demand for fast, secure communication in expeditionary operations. He noted that enabling Marines to push products from the field in real time not only increases tempo but strengthens the connection between the operational environment and command decision-making.
“Being able to instantly send imagery from austere environments makes it far easier to control the narrative and pass the truth of what’s on the ground,” said Sanchez. “COMMSTRAT Marines are no longer just observers, they’re an implemented capability. They bring a weapon and a camera, they train alongside the units they embed with, and they’re ready to defend themselves and those around them while delivering critical information.”
Marines reported that the systems were intuitive and field capable. The 5G router enabled quick startup and seamless file transfers using familiar workflows, while the Starshield allowed for global transmission with minimal setup.
“Compared to legacy systems that could weigh over 50 pounds and require multiple crates, the gear we tested set up in five minutes,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Brown, II MEF COMMSTRAT staff noncommissioned officer in charge. “Instead of one Marine struggling to get imagery out, now 10 or 15 Marines can push content simultaneously using the same device.”
Representatives from TCE were on site to observe system use and collect direct feedback from the Marines. That feedback will inform future improvements and potential fielding decisions.
“The feedback we get from Marines using these systems in real-world conditions is invaluable,” said Staff Sgt. Trentin Dunn, Digital Media Systems program analyst. “It allows our engineers to refine the technology so what we deliver back to the fleet is fully functional, reliable, and combat-ready.”
The exercise is part of Digital Frontline, a campaign highlighting how advanced communications tools are enabling Marines to operate faster, more securely and more effectively in a modern, information-driven battlespace.
“Our [military occupational specialty] is evolving,” said Dunn. “We’re building Marines who can survive, operate, and tell the story in the most challenging environments, and this technology ensures we can do it faster and more effectively than ever before.”
As the Marine Corps continues to modernize how it fights and communicates, exercises like this ensure that COMMSTRAT Marines are equipped, trained and ready to operate on the edge of the battlespace. By placing advanced technology in the hands of end users and building capability from the ground up, the service is reinforcing a simple truth: in the fight for information, speed, reliability, and trust remain the decisive edge.
| Date Taken: | 05.21.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2025 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 545620 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Digital Frontline: II MEF COMMSTRAT Marines put 5G to the test, by Joel Rivera Camacho, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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