Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Master Sgt. Carl Champagne disrupts adversary’s communications by using spectrum monitoring tools during a simulated satellite communications electronic attack exercise April 11, 2014, in New London, N.C. Champagne is a telecommunications specialist for the 263rd Combat Communication Squadron. The 263rd CBCS hosted more than 50 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Airmen during the joint training exercise. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran)263rd CBCS train like we fight
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Carl Champagne disrupts adversary’s communications by using spectrum monitoring tools during a simulated satellite communications electronic attack exercise April 11, 2014, in New London, N.C. Champagne is a telecommunications specialist for the 263rd Combat Communication Squadron. The 263rd CBCS hosted more than 50 active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Airmen during the joint training exercise. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Joint communication training creates realistic scenarios, cost savingsPublished March 23, 2015
                    
                    By Master Sgt. Patricia F. Moran
                    
                    
                    North Carolina National Guard
            **NEW LONDON, N.C. (AFNS) --**“Train like we fight” and “Do more with less” are mottos echoing the walls of countless Defense Department and Air Force conference rooms daily; and for good reason.U.S. military missions continue to expand while concurrently trying to balance shrinking budgets and decreasing personnel.During his April 2014 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference speech, Gen. John Hyten, then vice commander of Air Force Space Command said, “Whatever you can do to come up with solutions that really do save us money and provide additional capability across the Air Force, we're all for it"The recent partnership between the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 263rd Combat Communications Squadron and Air Combat Command’s 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, and their Reserve counterpart, the 26th SAS, represent this vision in action. They are an example of using innovation to tie limited resources together through a total force integration relationship and build mission capability and capacity for the joint force.The 263rd CBCS, located at North Carolina Air National Guard base provides tactical secure and unsecure voice and data communications systems in support of deployed warfighters and in support of civil authorities for state disaster response. Reliable communication is the life-blood of any crisis, natural disaster or conflict, and the unit has actively and diligently sought advanced training opportunities with the 527th SAS to ensure mission success.As a geographically separated squadron located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, the 527th SAS fully embodies the aggressor concept. That concept provides training audiences enemy-like scenarios to realistically replicate adversary threats. The space aggressors enable training audiences to develop new tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) to counter threats and improve U.S. joint warfighting communication capabilities, specifically by providing satellite communication electronic attack replication.Using boxing as an example, the 263rd CBCS is the boxer preparing for a fight, while the aggressors represent the sparring partner."We hit them in practice, to make sure they can take a punch, stand up and hit back in combat," said Maj. Christopher Fernengel, an operations officer assigned to the 527th SAS.In addition to being rivals in training, these innovative units are partnering to build a stronger future force while simultaneously executing fiscal dexterity.Between October 2014 and January 2015, the space aggressors deployed to North Carolina to support nearly 37,000 Sailors, Marines and Airmen during three U.S. Strategic Command and Navy exercises. Rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars in shipping costs to transport electronic attack training equipment, the 527th SAS repurposed standard combat communications equipment to replicate electronic attack to support the training exercises. Meanwhile, the 263rd CBCS Airmen provided technical expertise and manpower in support of the space aggressor mission."The relationship between our unit and the 527th advances total force integration, makes great fiscal sense and has significantly increased our ability to provide reliable communications to the warfighter in a contested environment," said Lt. Col. Anthony Sullins, the commander of the 263rd CBCS.The commonality of equipment between the 527th SAS and 263rd CBCS provides many advantages that enhance the missions of both units. The space aggressors save on transportation costs and personnel hours by leveraging combat communications equipment and personnel. The Air Force guardsmen of the 263rd CBCS can leverage training opportunities to remain proficient on their mission tasks prior to real world deployments. The advanced training provided by the 527th SAS allows combat communication operators to develop TTP and mitigation strategies through electro-magnetic interference “dogfight” exercises.The combined efforts of both squadrons resulted in nearly $62,000 in total savings of travel and personnel associated costs. Such a partnership answers the charge from the ACC commander that challenges Airmen to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to near term shortfalls.In fiscal year 2015, the support relationship between all three units is expected to be executed four times, providing the DOD an estimated savings of $250,000.“This total force effort will culminate by arming over 50,000 joint personnel with training and TTP development to fight in and through a contested environment during combat,” Fernengel said.A significant benefit of the partnership, which can’t be measured in cost savings, is how the 263rd CBCS becomes better prepared to fight in a contested, degraded and operationally limited environment. The aggressors also learn more about critical communications and ensure vulnerabilities are identified, exploited and mitigation tactics are developed.“Over the last year, we, along with our combat communications group, have worked with the 527th to integrate more combat (communication) units into this training and codify our lessons into community wide TTPs that are regularly exercised and trained,” Sullins said. “Until technical solutions to mitigate jamming are integrated into our equipment, we will use these TTPs to ensure combat communicators mitigate this threat at the tactical edge of our networks.”527th Space Aggressor Squadron 



communications 



joint 



Schriever Air Force Base 



AFSPC 



North Carolina Air National Guard Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil