[Milsurplus] Re: OLD COMMO and the National Guard and Reserves

[Patrick Jankowiak]

I could not agree more.

During the recent two hurricaines in LA and TX, the Texas state guard 
secured 11 shelters spread throughout approximately a 120x120 mile area. 
Some of these, in fact most of them, were in small towns where cellular 
service is spotty at best, and it was not always possible to access a phone 
line from the positions where we were.

Communication was carried out with NVIS HF, telephone, cellphone, and high 
band VHF. Some of the wired and VHF communication was difficult, and would 
have been much better is we had put NVIS HF stations at each shelter CP.

PJ

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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 08:32:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: "" <jjhaggerty01 at excite.com>
Subject: [Milsurplus] RE: Milsurplus Digest, Vol 17, Issue 24
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <20050922123242.C1886109EF6 at xprdmailfe1.nwk.excite.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


OLD COMMO and the National Guard and Reserves:
When I was in ARNG in the mid to late 80's we still had some PRC-25's and 
associated equipment. The particular unit I was in was supposed to have 
HF-SSB/VHF-FM PRC-70's but I never say any. I suppose some ARNG units that 
are at "Low Terr" etc., may still have VRC-12/RT-243/RT-524 series, and 
PRC-77's. The fact that some units may have this instead of SINCGARS seems 
to make a diffence to some. However, VRC-12's (etc.) are rugged, 
dependable, and soldier proof as you can get! What ARNG/USAR units 
supporting Aid to Civil Authorities need is simple reliable VHF equipment 
backed by multible RETRANS teams. Selected ARNG/USAR units may also need 
HF-NVIS capablites. All units at company/battalion level need Toughbook 
type lapTops, FAX's, and radios capable of tying in with civil authorities 
and avation units. They also need embedded "Commo Specialists" to support 
operations.  Reliable MILSEC type section/team level radios such as the 
PRC-126 with battery life up to 72 hours serve
well those who have dismounted  and patrol missions. Saddly the govenment 
has sold off some of the old but usable equipment. They could have reissued 
the sold off items to selected ARNG/USAR units to augment MTOE/TDA 
allowances for units most likely to support the "Aid to Civil Authorities" 
missions in disaster relief. Some guard units still have M16A1's instead of 
M16A2's or M4's, I read in the newspapers recently; So What! I have also 
read that the M14 has been pressed back into service to some degree 
recently. (I knew of a unit that had M1911's, yes M1911's not M1911A1'S as 
late as the 1990's.) The last M14's were made in 1968, yet still work great 
for seclected applications. So it is with old weapons, and so it is with 
old Commo. The nation's Guard and Reserves just need the gear in the 
quanties to support missions when needed, like now.

John