[MilCom] Devens Reserve Forces Training Area

Sun Mar 26 18:30:43 EST 2006

Another interesting hobby monitoring challenge would be the Devens (US Army)
Reserve Forces Training Area. Which makes use of at least some of the area
of the now closed Ft Devens for military field training, classrooms, dining,
loding, and large repair depots.

See: http://www.devens.army.mil/index.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fort-devens.htm
Map of former base:  http://www.pace-ayer.org/DevensFiles/AOC50_map.htm

Apparently the US Army Reserve (94th Area Command) is the primary unit (and 
will be downsized & moved to Westover JARB with the BRAC 2005 decision).
There's indication on the website that the military still has the following
functions which may be using radio communications/specific nets:

Tactical Training Area; various Reserve/Guard Military Units:
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/USARC.htm
to include the:
 Garrsion (training area) Command
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/USARC.htm

 804 Medical Brigade (USAR)  (which under brac is moving to Westover JARB & 
operating the new Granby Reserve Forces Medical Training 
Facility/Installation which was recently built)
http://www.devens.army.mil/804thwebsite/index.htm

Army National Guard, 25th Infantry
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/ANG_26th.htm

 lst Batallion 25th Marines (USMCR)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/1st_Battalion_25th_Marines.htm

2nd Brigade, 78th Division (USAR)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/2nd_Brigade_78th_Division.htm

 98th Division (USAR) subordinate units
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/98th_Division_Units_at_Devens.htm

Army Criminal Investigation Command (New England CID Office)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/CID_New_Englad_Branch_Office.html

Reserve Intelligence Program Office 18 Navy (USN/USNR)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/Navy_Reserve_Intelligence.htm

Northeast Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center (USAR)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/Northeast_Army_Reserves_Intelligence_Support.htm

Contact Team 4th Maintenance Battalion  4TH FSSG Marines (USMC, USMCR)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/Ordnance_Contact_Team.htm

Army ROTC New England Region
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/rotc.htm

Regional Training Site Maintenance (USA)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/rtsm.htm

USA Test, Measurement & Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE Support Center (TSC) New
England (USA)
http://www.devens.army.mil/tenants/TMD_NE.htm

Again the above military units may have very little radio communications
activity during the week with mostly weekend type activity OR may have no
radio communications at all

Garrison Base Support Activities
*DOD Police (and contract security)
http://www.devens.army.mil/Devens_Staff/DOD_Police/index.htm
http://www.devens.army.mil/regs_pdf/B_05-01.pdf
*Fire Department/Rescue:  Believe this is part of the Devens Business Park &
not military
*Department of Public Works & Maintenance:  Believe that this is contractor 
support
*Emergency Medical:  Provided by contract Patriot Ambulance

Range Trainig Areas Support:  various frequencies assigned for the ranges
(primary 38.85 mhz)
See Devens RFTA Regulation 350-2  http://www.devens.army.mil/req_summary.htm
you might want to look at all the annexes.
Pay attention to the following:
Chapters download  (paragraph 7-9)
http://www.devens.army.mil/Devens_Staff/Training/3_CHAPTERS.doc
Annex H (which has a color layout of the training area)
http://www.devens.army.mil/Devens_Staff/Training/12_AppendixH.doc

Support type functions will probably have the most radio communications than
any other activities.  Also when
guard & reserve units are on 2 weeks of active duty for training

Additionally the civilian side of the installation known as "Devens"
(http://www.devenscommunity.com/about_us/index.html) apparently has
security/police provided by the Mass State PD (see
http://www.devenscommunity.com/community_life/community_services.html ) and
Fire/Rescue Department http://departments.firehouse.com/dept/DevensMA

Additional Devens community information can be found at:
http://extras.sentinelandenterprise.com/devens_dispatch/previous.asp

Scanner Master's "Southern New England Frequency Guide", 10th edition, 11
frequencies that may be used at Devens
Police/Security UHF
Fire: UHF
DPW/Recreation:  UHF
Administration:  UHF
Military Security:  VHF Highband Repeater
Military Range Control:  VHF Highband Repeater & VHF Low Band
Utility Common:  Military VHF Highband 2
Base Medical Services:  UHF Business Band

UHF:  453.XXXX
Military VHF Highband:  140-143 Mhz
Military VHF Lowband:  38.XX
Military Highband VHF 2:  165-166 mhz area
UHF Business Band:  461-465 mhz area

Furthermore Grove's "Military Frequency Directory", 2nd edition list 31 
frequencies to the following nets:
CID Repeater:  VHF Highband (there still is a detachment at this location)
EOD Teams:  VHF Low Band (there still may be a reserve unit performing this 
function)
Fire Department:  Low Band (with the closure of Devens the state now 
provides fire protection on a UHF public safety freq)
Hospital Paging:  VHF Highband (this facility is closed, their is a small 
troop clinic for outpatient services with ambulance)
Law Enforcement:  VHF Low Band/Highband (there still is a DOD Police 
presence on this installation)
Maintenance:  VHF High Band (it's unclear whether the entire operation is 
contracted now with contractor's own freqs)
Medical:  VHF High Band ((this facility is closed, their is a small troop 
clinic for outpatient services with ambulance)
Military Police:  VHF Low Band & UHF Band (there's still is a DOD Police 
presence on this installation)
Misc: 7 VHF High Band (it's possible that some of these nets might be used 
for training)
Operations Net:  VHF Low Band, VHF Highband (it's possible that these nets 
are still used)
Post Engineers:  VHF High Band #2 (this activity may have been contracted 
out, but still may be using the frequency)
Range Control:  3 VHF Low Band
Taxi Transport:  1 VHF Highband#2 (this activity may have been eliminated or 
contracted out)

VHF Lowband ranges (# frequencies):  34-35(1),  38-50 (9) mhz
VHF Highband ranges (# frequencies):  138-144 (14), 148-150.8 (2), 163-166 
(2) mhz
UHF ranges (# frequencies):    407-414 (3) mhz

Furthermore there is low level aero activity in the area to include 
parachute drops & helicopter flights
so depending upon the unit providing drop support acitivty could be on the 
UHF aero or VHF aero bands
122.7, 122.8, 123.75, 124.4,  338.2, as well as tactical parachute drop 
safety frequency, which IMHO
probably will be related to the unit that is providing the air support

Note:  Moore Army Airfield is officially closed but may still be used for 
uncontrolled helo landings
See:  http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/moore.htm

Additional the Federal Prison uses an P25 digital trunking system in the
400-420 mhz area.  Frequencies can be found at
www.radioreference.com
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=2284

Furthermore the US Department of Labor has a Job Corps Training Facility at
that location, at this time no frequencies have been listed (see
http://shriver.jobcorps.gov/

So as you can see there a lot of potential monitoring challenges in that
immediate area for anyone in a fixed monitoring location closeby or
hobbyists who want to do an "on scene" to try to scoop some frequencies
in use.

So if you are a milcom monitoring hobbyist living in that area or are 
transiting
through the area (via US Route 2), think about putting you scanner in the 
search
mode to try to find the active milcom frequencies!!!  Please post your 
findings to
this list.

Thanks.

Ken