South Dakota National Guard 

Public Affairs Office 

2823 West Main St. 

Rapid City, S.D. 57702 

Phone 605-737-6721 

E-mail PAO@sd.ngb.army.mil

June 15, 2008 

SDNG-PA-06-15B-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

High-tech satellite gear links Guard units, emergency agencies 

By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty, 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. – Missouri Guardsmen familiarized themselves with 

cutting-edge communications equipment Tuesday, June 10, at Ellsworth Air Force Base. 

Members of the 1140th Engineer Battalion deployed and utilized the Joint Task Force 

Communications Equipment system – a satellite-linked voice and data system – as part of their 

annual training at this year’s Golden Coyote exercise. The JTFCE allows state emergency 

management officials to remain in touch with units deployed for emergency duty. 

The system proved very worthy, allowing the tactical operations center to stay in constant 

contact with field-deployed units well out of normal radio range without any interruption, said 

Lt. Col. William Blaylock, commander of the 1140th. 

“This system has enabled us to keep in touch real-time with our people,” Blaylock said. “It’s a 

valuable addition to our equipment list, and I’m confident it will prove its worth time and time 

again in the future.” 

The communications capability of each JTFCE system is virtually unlimited. Besides allowing 

typical voice communications, each system also provides Internet access as well as video 

conferencing capability, said Capt. Kelly Messerli, the 1140th's assistant operations officer. 

He said they are much more reliable than cell phones because signals can be disrupted by a lack 

of service or by terrain. 

Messerli said although the JTFCEs purchased by the state of Missouri are configured for use 

only in the continental United States, with the right programming they could be deployed and 

utilized anywhere in the world. 

When state officials were deciding how many JTFCEs to purchase and where to send them, 

geographic location and unit capability were two of the most important considerations, Blaylock 

said. 
“We received one because of where we are and because of what we are capable of doing,” said 

Blaylock. 

The battalion has a variety of operational capabilities including clearing and rebuilding roads, 

moving earth, and bridging bodies of water, he added. 

The 1140th, located in Cape Girardeau, is in close proximity to the New Madrid Fault, which has 

been deemed a major earthquake flashpoint by geologists. The potential for a major quake along 

the New Madrid Fault Line is extremely great, experts have said, and when – not if – a major 

quake occurs, Missouri Guard units are likely to be overwhelmed, along with other military 

elements and civilian emergency response agencies. 

One way to better coordinate the disaster response is to ensure reliable communications, and the 

JTFCE fits that bill. The addition of the JTFCE system means the 1140th Engineer Battalion has 

a much greater potential to save lives while minimizing long-term damage, Blaylock said. 

-30- 

High resolution photos will be available at the following Web site: 

LINK: https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/sites/GC2008/default.aspx

Photo Cut Lines: 

080610-A-4363M-001.JPG: Soldiers of the 1140th Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National 

Guard, attend a briefing about an upcoming mission via video conferencing link powered by the 

Joint Task Force Communications Equipment system Tuesday, June 10, at Ellsworth Air Force 

Base, S.D., as part of this year’s Golden Coyote training exercise. The JTFCE system provides 

reliable satellite-fed voice and data links between field units and headquarters elements during 

training operations and real-time disaster response missions. (Army National Guard photo by 1st 

Lt. Michelle Matthews) 

Location of South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office: 

2823 West Main Street 

Building 400 

Rapid City, SD 57702-8186 

(605) 737-6721 

MEDIA WISHING TO EMBED are asked to RSVP with Maj. Orson Ward at (605) 737-

6721, cell (605) 431-8753 or via E-mail at orson.ward@us.army.mil. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the South Dakota National Guard, please visit our 

Web site at https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/default.aspx
NOTE: The South Dakota National Guard will host the annual Golden Coyote exercise from 

June 7 – 21 in the southern Black Hills. More than 4,000 service members from 92 units 

representing 27 states and four foreign nations are participating in the exercise. The Golden 

Coyote exercise has been conducted for the past 24 years. The exercise provides relevant training 

opportunities in support of the war on terror and homeland defense. 

Residents should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the Black Hills and an 

increase in the level of noise due to military operations. Aviation activity will be operating out of 

Camp Rapid and the Army Aviation Support Facility next to the Rapid City Regional Airport. 

Aircraft will be primarily training on equipment and personnel transport missions as well as 

medical evacuation. Aircraft will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and 

remain in an all-hours-ready status during the exercise. 

Spectators to military training are welcome, however caution is warranted and spectators are 

asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury 

to personnel or damage to property.