DESERT EAGLE support team vital to exercise, downrange success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brigitte N. Brantley-Sisk
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
NEVADA TEST AND TRAINING RANGE, Nev. --  As American and British Airmen walked through the hostile village of al-Burqua, there were two things that allowed them to be in the right place at the right time: accurate intelligence and effective communication.

These two support elements came together to help execute the game plan behind the first-ever DESERT EAGLE exercise held March 14 to 16 at a range near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Airmen participating in this exercise were from the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and the 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, 4 Force Protection Wing, RAF Honington.

"The squadrons within the 820th Base Defense Group are more than just security forces units," said Col. Randall Richert, 820th BDG commander. "Each one is a combined task force that is able to operate on its own. Having an accurate and effective support team helps create the incredible synergy that allows us to operate so well."

The three-man communication team assigned to the 822nd brought about 18,000 pounds of equipment to the exercise, about half the amount they might take on a real-world tasking.

"Both during exercises like DESERT EAGLE and while downrange, communications Airmen are some of the most important," said Master Sgt. Jan Johannes, 822nd BDS communication division chief. "We're responsible for everything from the tactical handheld radios to the making sure we can have communication with our home station."

The radios used during the exercise were vital to making sure that troops all over the simulated forward operating base were able to communicate, despite whether they were at the entry control point or conducting patrols through al-Burqua.

However, these patrols also required something else to complete the mission: accurate intelligence.

"Intel drives the mission," said Capt. Tyler McSpadden. "The security forces troops have a lot going on, so it's helpful to have someone dedicated to certain resources such as intelligence and the imagery associated it with it."

During the exercise, both sides had access to imagery such as maps and used them when presented with scenarios. The intelligence and communication staff worked mainly out of the base defense operations center, through which both vital intel and comm information passed.