Consolidation for Success

A LSCO Driven Electronic Warfare and Air Missile Defense Concept

By Col Thomas Goettke, MAJ David Endter, and CPT Frank E. Ruscito

October 1, 2024 | Field Artillery, 2024 Issue #2

Read Time: < 14 mins

Gunnery is not a foreign concept to Fires professionals; manuals and publications govern almost every aspect of training and certification for Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery operations. They lay out a step-by-step process to verify that Fires Soldiers are trained and ready to deploy to win in large-scale combat operations. Gunnery conceptually aligns with the “Crawl, Walk, Run” model that sets requirements for classroom instruction, individual and crew certification, then platoon and beyond collective training progressing to dry and live fire exercises at echelon. After organic units train and certify individual and team skills, trained forces must integrate into their supported unit’s collective training path. Organic Field Artillery units frequently execute this methodology with 13F training, completing certification prior to a supported battalion’s platoon live fire training. A cadre of Master Gunners and experts in various specialties execute this methodology under the guidance of evaluation criteria defined by the division or a brigade fire support coordinator (FSCOORD). Given the growing complexity of the contemporary battlefield and increased premium on technical training, the 13F training methodology can be a template for other military occupational specialties – specifically for the 14-series when serving in an infantry division. Owing to frequent United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rotations, 10th Mountain Division reorganized to specifically train for the Counter-Unmanned Aerial System threat (C-UAS) threat our units would encounter in theater. Using the 13F model, 10th Mountain Division experimented with an Air and Missile Defense and Electronic Warfare (AMDEW) Company to effectively train for C-UAS and Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) threats and prepare for a pending deployment.

Over several years, the 10th Mountain Division and its subordinate brigades gained valuable first-hand experience during their mission in CENTCOM supporting Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). The threat of sUAS increased in volume and complexity for years, culminating in the widespread use by the Islamic State and other militant groups. Initially, enemy systems were commercial drones like the DJI Phantom Quadcopter equipped with explosives. The threat evolved to become the same systems used to observe and disrupt friendly targets in swarms. Over time, drones built deliberately for one-way attacks proliferated and became the main threat in both CENTCOM and in the Russian invasion of Ukraine with few effective countermeasures. In addition, disruption of the electromagnetic spectrum and cyber exploitation offered threats that required a parallel training path to address. In 2021, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division developed a way to train for base defense operations throughout CENTCOM as part of their upcoming mission. They integrated teams of Cyber-Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), air defenders and supporting personnel to man functional base defense operations cells (BDOC) in a theater capable of responding to the C-UAS and electronic attack threats. The concept required a revision of how the personnel would train, which included mission-specific tasks and courseware, as well as collective training and live fire exercises in C-UAS-specific operations.

The deployment was successful with the developed Air Missile Defense/Electronic Warfare(AMDEW) Cells performing beyond their initial expectations. The experiences of the cells collected into the AMDEW Mission Readiness Glidepath remain the standard for BDOC training for 10th Mountain Division units that prepare to deploy to CENTCOM. Then commander of 1st Brigade, COL Brian Ducote, reviewed the lessons and convened an AMDEW Symposium following the unit’s redeployment in 2023 to maximize the exposure of the concept of AMDEW teaming. The 10th Mountain Division implemented a series of actions to better train the 14 and 17-series Soldiers for their tailored mission, laying the groundwork for what would become the AMDEW Company.

In May 2023, the AMDEW Company consolidated 14 and 17-series from across the division into a formation under division artillery (DIVARTY) to maximize lessons learned and disseminate recent downrange experience from seasoned NCOs and Warrant Officers. In May 2023, all 14-, 15-, 17-and limited numbers of 25-series personnel from 10th Mountain’s 1st BCT, 2nd BCT, DIVARTY and 10th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) consolidated with their equipment and set on a training glide path targeted at creating Soldiers fully trained and certified in their respective function, with an end state to reintegrate with their parent unit upon the conclusion of individual and small unit proficiency training. What followed through the latter half of 2023 was an ambitious project of training management that captured the benefits and risks associated with consolidation. The result of the consolidation was overwhelmingly positive for both Soldier competency and unit training within 10th Mountain. Continued success is reliant upon the analysis and after-action review to effectively apply the lessons learned from the AMDEW to further refine the concept.

CONCEPT

AMDEW Company personnel are organized for combat, aligning a squad with each BDOC at echelon, to start the team building ladder. At the AMDEW team level, a squad is comprised of an Air Defense and Airspace Management (ADAM) Cell, battalion level electronic warfare (EW) CEMA teams and the brigade CEMA team. Leadership is organically assigned among the teams with a branch immaterial senior NCO assuming command and control of the squad. Sub-hand receipt holders consolidated their equipment aligned with their respective squads. For any equipment shortages within the team, the ability to cross-load can occur to provide maximum support for assigned missions. The AMDEW Company intends to function as an independent company, administered under 10th Mountain Division DIVARTY HHB until a company-level UIC can be established.

Figure 1: AMDEW Line Wire Diagram. Illustrates the task organization of the AMDEW. It is a Platoon plus element that falls directly under 10th Mountain Division HHB/DIVARTY. AMDEW is then broken into three sections; two that affiliate with CEMA and the remaining for the air missile defense to conduct MOS specific training.

The two populations of AMD and CEMA personnel have separate training glide paths with unified requirements issued by their parent units, namely a timeline to meet an expected training threshold. To develop the company training plan, AMDEW modeled its development from the DIVARTY model for fire support team certification. The AMDEW would have governing authority of training and certification for AMD and CEMA tasks by their relevant publications in the same manner DIVARTY conducts fire support certification per their annual Red Book under the supervision of Master Gunners and the fire support coordinator (FSCOORD). The ADAM Cells benefitted from TC 3-01.50 as the official doctrine for the ADAM Cell Gunnery Program which defines Tables I through VI starting with individual level operator certification to brigade level integration. CEMA was a more difficult domain to certify, as no documents above the division level exist to govern collective CEMA training requirements. To resolve this, a consortium of CEMA professionals from across the division created the Tier Training Model inspired by the intelligence community’s Military Intelligence Training Strategy (MITS) Tier model. This system managed training at the unit support level with Tier IV signifying trained personnel as individuals and Tier I trained as fully manned platoons directly engaging with the brigade.

With personnel and equipment in place and training models set, AMDEW identified several objectives for its first year. They included:

• Ensure fully trained personnel for reintegration with 1st BCT no later than 30 January 2024. This included ADAM personnel certified to Table VI and CEMA personnel certified to Tier IV.

• Conduct Annual Sentinel qualification.

• Support all Hunter-Electromagnetic Spectrum (Hunter EMS) events conducted for the remainder of the 2023 calendar year. Hunter EMS is a 10th Mountain Division organic event consolidating 13-, 14-, 17- and 25-series to train together with the integration of emerging technology from industry partners.

• Support all Hunter-Electromagnetic Spectrum (Hunter EMS) events conducted for the remainder of the 2023 calendar year. Hunter EMS is a 10th Mountain Division organic event consolidating 13-, 14-, 17- and 25-series to train together with the integration of emerging technology from industry partners.

• Conduct an after-action review (AAR) in December 2023 after the conclusion of ADAM Table VI certification. Certification oversight and authority resides with 10th Mountain DIVARTY Commander. Focus of the AAR identified successes and shortfalls of the initial AMDEW certification process.

Figure 2: 14-series patterned after 13F while 17-series patterned after MITS. However, the supported unit’s collective CPX progression drove 14-series reintegration while the 17-series had to be ready by platoon STX/LFX training.

OUTCOMES

The AMDEW training calendar aligned with brigade level training events, such as command post exercises (CPXs), Hunter EMS and C-UAS training. The AMDEW Company achieved all the assigned objectives in 2023 while ensuring adjacent units and the division received adequate support. Collective training events consisted of Hunter EMS V, VI and VII and 1st BCT’s monthly CPX window. Units contacted DIVARTY S3 for requests for support. Despite reorganizing for combat, legacy relationships from the supported brigade introduced the most friction as both AMDEW and the supported brigade fully leveraged senior NCO leadership. Despite this personnel friction, the system allowed AMDEW to adapt available personnel and equipment to continue to train while supporting operations.

The 14-series population began their certification process with a week of classroom training focused on the operator level and retraining on air defense and airspace fundamentals. Table 0 aligned as a quarterly event for all 14-series personnel at the Townsend Mission Training Complex (MTC) at Fort Drum. Following the operator reset of the initial training horizon of Table IV, a Sentinel qualification in September 2023 moved to crew-level training and emplacement of ADAM Cell equipment. By the end of September, all 14-series personnel in the 10th Mountain Division completed appropriate testing for Sentinel certification and evaluated for Table IV certification. Fort Drum’s air defense personnel consistently achieved radar emplacement in 22 minutes; eight minutes faster than the 30-minute standard. Training continued with a second quarterly Table 0 and ended in December 2023 with two Table VI events for 1st BCT and 10th CAB. 10th CAB did not participate in consolidation due to the mission-essential nature of the CAB ADAM Cell. However, they trained with the AMDEW on several occasions and provided equipment and personnel for operations as available. With the completion of Table VI, AMD personnel returned to 1st BCT to prepare for an exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and set conditions for a follow-on deployment.

CEMA training accelerated rapidly but followed a similar timeline to the air defense side. Soldiers achieved Tier IV by September 2023, which consisted of individual Soldier tasks and EW operations for staff and field operations. The training was an effective combination of how individual tasks supported the CEMA operators’ ability to navigate, direction find and support maneuver forces. With the completion of Tier IV, leadership decided that before reintegration back to the organic unit, the AMDEW would train and certify EW operators to achieve Tier III to support 1st BCT more effectively at the squad and team level. Balancing this effort with existing obligations to Hunter EMS VII and a CPX initially proved difficult. However, operators achieved Tier III certification in December 2023. Based on the results, consolidation and alignment with a coherent training glidepath allowed AMDEW to achieve its training objectives rapidly, allowing Soldiers the opportunity for additional training to enhance skills outside of normal certification tasks.

Overall, Soldiers within the AMDEW overwhelmingly support the consolidation. Junior enlisted Soldiers expressed greater job satisfaction and a sense of purpose. NCOs relished the opportunity to serve as squad leaders and develop junior personnel. Moving personnel from their assigned unit allowed them to focus full-time on their role as air defense and CEMA professionals and bring their desired capability and expertise back to the unit for collective training. Division leaders praised the efforts of the AMDEW and its success in training as personnel prepare for deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Upcoming culminating exercises and an eventual deployment will be the Soldiers’ true test as they fully reintegrate back to brigade staff operations and able to display their skills as experts in their fields.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The AMDEW model achieved its stated goals, but not without ample friction during implementation. If a unit were to attempt a similar model to consolidate and train 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-series personnel throughout a division, the 10th Mountain Division AMDEW recommends the following amendments or adjustments to your unit’s equivalent echelon.

• Consolidate EW and air defense personnel separately. Mission sets for EW personnel do cross over with ADAM Cells, but not enough to train concurrently. ADAM Cells benefitted greatly from training, however the ADAM Cell is a component of the S3 and provides critical functionality to adjacent cells, such as fire support, counterfire and protection. Task organization of the AMDEW Company should reflect an AMD platoon and an EW platoon. Oversight will be with the AMDEW leadership, but each platoon will have different training glide paths. Furthermore, the timelines for when EW and ADAM cells return to the BCTs will differ.

• Conduct a thorough review of published doctrine dictating certification requirements for ADAM and CEMA to omit redundant tasks, or tasks that must be executed at the BCT level. An example is ADAM Gunnery tasks to control airspace despite ADAM Cells not having the requisite level of control. While simulation can mimic BCT BDOC operations, later tables in ADAM Gunnery require to execute during a CPX. Emphasis on quality training to achieve and assess gunnery standards should occur during execution of exercises, especially if in preparation for a deployment.

• Establish administrative requirements before consolidation. Assign a commander and platoon leaders for each platoon.

• AMDEW Soldiers should be attached to DIVARTY to avoid disruption in BCT reporting.

  Standardize testing products and seek division oversight of training materials and certification criteria. This includes providing dedicated qualified standardization evaluators for both ADAM and CEMA, who are not organic to the host units to provide the more accurate and unbiased assessments of training and certification. Consolidate these standards in an SOP for continued refinement and future use.

• Facilitate external support for training and certification. This specifically includes the brigade aviation elements (BAE) at the BCT levels. While the 15-series are currently not part of AMDEW, they provide an integral role in training, certification and execution of the mission sets for ADAM. For the 10th Mountain Division, the responsibility for coordination across formations resided with the DIVARTY S3.

• Write the entire AMDEW training schedule up front. A published training schedule acts as an agreement among all stakeholders on expectations and timelines for collective training support.

• 17-series trained IAW the tier evaluations illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. Within each tier are the associated table benchmarks to advance to the next level of training. Each table consists of a specific task with a go/no go criteria to achieve the desired proficiency of training, similar to Training and Evaluation Outline (T&EO) criteria when utilizing Mission Essential Tasks (MET).

Figure 3: Modified Tier IV training for the AMDEW 17-series. Training takes place over one week. Day 1 is preparation and in-brief. Table I and II are conducted in a classroom environment on Day 2 and Tables III/IV conduct in a field environment on Day 3. Day 4 begins with evaluation in the field and culminates in a written test in a classroom environment.

Figure 4: Modified Tier III training for the AMDEW 17-series. Training expands to crew level certification and encompasses site development, preparation of equipment, establishment of EW sites and conducting electromagnetic environment (EME) comparison.

CONCLUSION

Soldiers want to do their jobs. They inherently want to be the best at what they do and be the subject matter experts in their respective fields. Organizing for combat with the expressed purpose to focus on their specialties raises morale, gives Soldiers a clear task and purpose, creates networks that transcend across brigade level echelons and enhances their areas of expertise. It enables Soldiers to become force multipliers to their organic units.

Large-Scale Combat Operations necessitates a high degree of training from AMD and cyber professionals. The AMDEW Company is a way to ensure there is a concentrated effort to train our Soldiers and provides accountability measures for our critical enablers. Leaders owe quality training to our Soldiers so they can address the ever-evolving threats encountered downrange. The AMDEW concept is not perfect but organizes a critical path to provide Brigade Combat Teams with trained personnel for their collective training events.