Soldiers, Marines join forces to communicate at Kodiak

KODIAK, Alaska -- Army Spc. Harrison Black, a satellite specialist, briefs his platoon commander, 2nd Lt. Rose Munroe, on a satellite the Soldiers provided for Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron-1 to communicate with Air Force aggressor pilots during Exercise Northern Edge 11, June 14, 2011. The Soldiers are from Company C 307, 59th Signal Battalion at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (Photo by Cpl. Marionne T. Mangrum)

Soldiers, Marines join forces to communicate at Kodiak

KODIAK, Alaska -- Army Pfc. Zachary Harmon Jr., a multichannel system operator/maintainer performs maintenance on a satellite provided to Marines of Marine Air Control Squadron-1, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing to communicate with Air Force aggressor pilots as they practice aerial combat during Exercise Northern Edge 11, June 14, 2011. Harmon is a member of Company C 307, 59th Signal Battalion at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (Photo by Marine Cpl. Marionne T. Mangrum)

Soldiers, Marines join forces to communicate at Kodiak

Published June 20, 2011
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim McLendon

KODIAK, Alaska -- Communicating from land to sea and air plays a vital role during joint operations in the U.S. military. Soldiers and Marines have made this communication possible in Kodiak, Alaska, for Exercise Northern Edge 11.

Signaliers attached to Charlie Company, 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, joined with Marines of Marine Air Control Squadron One to ensure communication needs are met during the joint training.

MACS-1, from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., is typically an autonomous unit. However, with their communications detachment currently deployed overseas they looked to the 59th Signal Battalion at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, for the connection they needed.

"We normally work with our own assets; it is a new and rewarding experience working with the Army 'com' guys," said Marine Master Sgt. Brad Barber, MACS-1 senior air director, from Atlanta, Ga. "At home, we don't get the opportunity to work with joint contingencies."

The Marines and Soldiers are working in the same capacity here as they do during combat deployments.

"We're learning how they work; they're learning how we work," said Army Spc. James Havens, a native of Gulfport, Miss. "We all have one main goal, to accomplish the mission."

Their mission for Northern Edge is to ensure land, air and sea units are able to communicate effectively to accomplish their respective missions.

The Army signaliers install, operate, maintain and protect communication systems, to enable MACS-1 to receive information instantaneously via secured and unsecured communications and relay messages between military services.

"It's a good experience for [the soldiers] to work with the Marines before they deploy overseas," said Army 2nd Lt. Rose Munroe, the 307th ESB Heavy Signal Platoon leader.
NE11 is Alaska's largest joint military training exercise and runs through June 24 in various locations throughout the state and the Gulf of Alaska. It prepares U.S. forces to respond to crises throughout the Asian-Pacific region. The exercise affords Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and National Guard members -- active duty and reserve -- highly flexible, tactical real life experiences.