The Reality of Radio Communications on the Ground Battlefield

This course will familiarize attendees with the basic concepts of radio communications as used by the ground warrior: introduce practical information about radio communications on the modern battle field, such as (1) the need to consider the communications logistics tail, (2) the weight that warfighters carry, and the impact of communications equipment on it, (3) spectrum limitations, and (4) how the way we fight influences the amount and type of communications on the ground (e.g., platoons in isolated valleys have satellite communications, convoys in IED areas all have radios); and explain and demonstrate state-of-the-art equipment.

Half of the course will be classroom instruction and half hands-on opportunities.  About 70 percent of the course will focus on what's in use, 20 percent on future systems, and the balance on historic capabilities.  Participants will receive take-away materials (printed or CD).

PREREQUISITES/WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Warfighters and IT personnel who are not communicators but whose work is related to, or who have an interest in telecommunications, especially those involved in the acquisition of , or planning for military communications.

Lecturer and Course Coordinator:  Dr. Linton Wells II  is the Transformation Chair at the National Defence University.  From 1998 to 2007 he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, first in command, control, communications and intelligence and then in networks and information integration. This included two years as Acting Assistant Secretary and DoD Chief Information Officer.